I 


John  Long’s 
Voyages  and  Travels 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 
Getty  Research  Institute 


https://archive.org/details/johnlongsvoyagesOOIong 


tPje  ilakestDe  Classics 

John  Long’s 
Voyages  and  Travels 

in  the  Years  1768-1788 

EDITED  WITH 

HISTORICAL  INTRODUCTION  AND  NOTES 
BY 

MILO  MILTON  QUAIFE 


WITH  MAP 


<®be  ‘Eafogi&e  prw,  Cbicajjo 
R.  R.  DONNELLEY  &  SONS  COMPANY 
CHRISTMAS,  MCMXXII 


^ubUgtyet#'  preface 


THE  selection  of  material  for  the  Lake¬ 
side  Classics  is  growing  increasingly 
difficult  each  year.  The  book  must  be 
sufficiently  rare  to  justify  its  reprinting,  and 
it  must  contain  a  human  interest  which  will 
make  it  read  and  prized  for  its  intrinsic  merit. 
Many  a  time  the  publishers  have  wished  that 
they  might  have  foreseen  to  what,  uncon¬ 
sciously,  they  had  committed  themselves,  and 
how  the  row  of  these  little  books  was  to  grow 
from  year  to  year  on  the  shelves  of  their 
friends.  Some  consistent  program  for  subject 
matter  would  certainly  have  been  adopted, 
and  the  interest  in  the  general  plan  would 
have  excused  the  dullness  of  some  particular 
volume.  But  without  any  such  plan,  each 
volume  must  stand  on  its  own  feet,  and  a 
particularly  happy  selection  one  year  estab¬ 
lishes  the  necessity  of  an  equally  happy  one 
for  its  successor;  and  each  year  we  shift  the 
responsibility  to  Mr.  Quaife,  to  discover  from 
his  wide  knowledge  of  early  American  history, 
another  rare  publication  that  will  measure  up 
to  the  established  standard. 

Again,  for  this  year’s  volume,  we  turn  to 
the  north  country,  the  early  fur  trade,  and 
Indian  adventure.  John  Long’s  experiences 


$u&lis(Kr.$’  preface 


and  narrative  are  somewhat  similar  to  Henry’s 
narrative  of  last  year.  But  Henry  was  always 
the  white  man  carrying  himself  through  by 
his  white  man’s  intelligence  and  force  of  char¬ 
acter,  while  Long,  living  in  his  youth  among 
the  Indians  as  an  Indian,  acquired  a  knowledge 
of  their  language,  customs,  and  psychology, 
which  intuitively  told  him  in  critical  situa¬ 
tions  just  when  to  cajole  and  when  to  be  bold. 

Both  narratives  are  full  of  the  thrills  of  the 
dime  novels  of  our  boyhood  days,  but  with  a 
directness  of  statement  that  carries  conviction 
even  to  our  advancing  years.  If  the  story  of 
John  Long  adds  an  hour  or  so  of  real  pleasure 
during  this  Christmas  season  to  the  friends 
of  The  Lakeside  Press,  its  reprinting  will 
accomplish  the  hopes  of 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 

Christmas,  1922. 


VI 


Contents 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

Historical  Introduction . xi 

Preface  to  Original  Edition  xxv 

1.  Removal  to  America .  3 

2.  The  Village  of  Caughnawaga .  9 

3.  Concerning  the  Iroquois  or  Five  Nations 

Indians . 12 

4.  Scalping  and  Indian  Warfare . 25 

5.  The  Connecedaga  or  Rondaxe  Indians  .  34 

6.  From  Montreal  to  Mackinac . 45 

7.  Removal  to  Lake  Superior  and  Adoption  by 

the  Chippewas . 57 

8.  The  Winter  at  Lac  la  Mort;  Encounter 

with  the  Natives . 71 

9.  Further  Proceedings  at  Lac  la  Mort  98 

10.  Return  to  Lake  Superior . 109 

11.  Second  Winter  among  the  Nipigon  Indians  .  132 

1 2.  Famine  and  Cannibalism:  Observations  upon 

the  Hudson’s  Bay  Company . 148 

13.  Indian  Customs  and  Beliefs:  Return  to 

Mackinac . 168 

14.  An  Escapade  at  Mackinac,  and  Expedition 

to  Prairie  du  Chien . 177 

15.  Expedition  to  the  Saguenay  Country  193 

16.  Further  Vicissitudes  of  the  Author  205 

Index . 229 

vii 


Historical  Introduction 


pgtoncal  31nttotwctfon 


ifEAR  ago  in  the  Lakeside  Classics  series 


was  published  the  personal  narrative  of 


Alexander  Henry,  who  embarked  in  the 
Northwest  fur-trade  immediately  following  the 
English  Conquest  of  Canada,  and  for  sixteen 
years  thereafter  passed  his  life  in  the  wilder¬ 
ness,  at  first  around  the  shores  of  Lake  Mich¬ 
igan  and  Lake  Superior,  and  later  in  the  far 
Northwest. 

This  year,  in  presenting  the  Voyages  and 
Travels  of  John  Long,  we  return  to  much  the 
same  scene  of  activities  in  a  slightly  later 
period.  Long  was  a  native  of  England  who 
came  out  to  Canada  in  the  year  1768,  in  the 
capacity  of  articled  clerk  to  a  merchant  of 
Montreal.  The  all-absorbing  business  of  Mont¬ 
real  in  this  period  was  the  Indian  trade,  and 
Long’s  career  in  the  New  World  was  thus  fixed 
in  advance  of  his  migration  to  it.  His  course 
of  training  for  the  arduous  duties  of  the  new  and 
strange  employment  is  described  by  our  author 
himself  in  the  opening  chapters  of  his  narrative. 

Of  the  first  seven  years  of  Long’s  sojourn  in 
America  the  journal  tells  but  little.  Then,  in 
the  spring  of  1775,  two  events  occurred  which 
shaped  the  further  course  of  the  narrative. 
The  one  was  the  expiration  of  Long’s  seven- 


XI 


historical  introduction 


year  term  of  apprenticeship  to  his  employer; 
the  other,  the  outbreak  of  the  American  Rev¬ 
olution.  Long  was  “naturally  of  a  roving 
disposition,”  and  he  had  just  completed  an 
arduous  schooling  in  the  arts  of  savage  and 
wilderness  life.  The  rebellious  American  colo¬ 
nists  expected  as  a  matter  of  course  to  enroll 
the  ancient  French  colony  to  the  northward  in 
their  ranks,  and  expeditions  to  this  end  were 
among  the  earliest  military  enterprises  of  the 
Americans  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

Canada  had  need  of  defenders,  therefore, 
and  training  and  personal  inclination  alike 
combined  to  induce  Long  to  put  himself  at  the 
head  of  an  Indian  raiding  party  for  irregular 
service  in  the  Royal  cause.  From  the  view¬ 
point  of  the  American  colonists  the  occupation 
upon  which  our  author  thus  entered  was  the 
most  detestable  known  to  man.  Generations 
of  frontier  contests  had  imbued  them  with  a 
horror  of  Indian  warfare  which  seared  their 
very  souls.  “The  horrors  of  savage  belliger¬ 
ence,”  wrote  the  townsmen  of  Detroit  in 
December,  1811,  appealing  to  the  government 
for  protection,  “  description  cannot  paint.  No 
picture  can  resemble  the  reality.  No  effort  can 
bring  the  imagination  up  to  the  standard  of 
fact.  Nor  sex,  nor  age,  have  claims.  The 
short  remnant  of  life  left  to  the  hoary  head, 
trembling  with  age  and  infirmities,  is  snatched 
away.  The  tenderest  infant,  yet  imbibing  nu¬ 
trition  from  the  mammilla  of  maternal  love, 
xii 


i^igtorical  ^ntrotmction 


and  the  agonized  mother  herself,  alike  await 
the  stroke  of  the  relentless  tomahawk.  No 
vestige  is  left  of  what  fire  can  consume.  Noth¬ 
ing  that  breathes  the  breath  of  life  is  spared. 
The  animals  reared  by  the  care  of  civilized 
man  are  involved  in  his  destruction.  No  hu¬ 
man  foresight  can  divine  the  quarter  which 
shall  be  struck.  It  is  in  the  dead  of  the  night, 
in  the  darkness  of  the  moon,  in  the  howling  of 
the  storm,  that  the  demoniac  deed  is  done.” 

Perchance  the  time  will  come,  with  the  pass¬ 
ing  of  the  decades,  when  an  American  reader 
can  sit  calmly  down  to  the  perusal  of  the  rape 
of  Louvain  or  the  exploits  of  a  submarine  cap¬ 
tain  in  the  Great  War.  In  such  a  state  of 
detachment  the  American  of  today  may  peruse 
the  story  of  Long’s  partisan  warfare  against 
his  forbears.  Although  our  author  writes 
with  apparent  candor,  making  no  effort  to  con¬ 
ceal  his  genuine  liking  for  the  service  in  which 
he  was  engaged,  he  either  took  no  part  in  raids 
upon  the  American  settlements  or  else  he  has 
seen  fit  to  refrain  from  reciting  such  exploits. 

After  two  years  of  service  in  the  war,  chiefly 
in  the  capacity  of  ranger  serving  with  Indian 
war-parties,  our  author  embarked  upon  the 
Northwest  fur-trade,  going  out  to  Mackinac 
in  the  spring  of  1777.  Six  months  earlier 
Alexander  Henry  had  returned  to  Montreal, 
concluding  thereby  his  sixteen-year  period  of 
service  in  the  trade  of  the  interior  upon  which 
Long  was  just  embarking.  From  Mackinac 
xiii 


i^istoncal  ^i^oDuctiott 


our  author  was  sent  into  the  Lake  Superior 
district,  being  assigned  to  the  forbidding  region 
around  Lake  Nipigon  and  extending  indefi¬ 
nitely  northward  and  westward. 

Of  the  manner  of  life  in  this  region,  where 
Long  spent  two  seasons,  his  own  words  afford 
a  plain,  yet  eloquent,  picture.  Perusing  them, 
one  cannot  but  agree  that  something  other 
than  the  paltry  salary  received  must  have 
animated  the  spirits  of  men  to  induce  them  to 
face  and  endure  such  hardships. 

At  the  close  of  his  second  season  in  the  Lake 
Nipigon  country,  Long  returned  to  Mackinac 
and  there  joined  the  combined  British  and 
Indian  expedition  to  Prairie  du  Chien,  sent  out 
in  the  spring  of  1780  to  carry  off  the  stock  of 
furs  which  the  traders  had  accumulated  there, 
in  advance  of  an  expected  attack  by  the  Amer¬ 
icans.  Thus,  for  a  brief  space  of  time,  our 
author  comes  once  more  within  the  circle  of 
warlike  activities,  and  this,  too,  at  an  interest¬ 
ing  period  of  the  Revolution  in  the  West. 
Spain  had  declared  war  upon  Great  Britain 
in  1779,  and  with  this  new  enemy  to  face  the 
British  authorities  proceeded  to  develop  a  com¬ 
prehensive  plan  of  operations  for  the  year 
1780  which  should  sweep  the  whole  western 
American  frontier  from  Canada  to  Florida  and 
effect  the  overthrow  of  the  power  both  of 
Spain  and  the  rebellious  colonists  in  the  valley 
of  the  Mississippi.  From  Pensacola  in  the 
South  and  Detroit  in  the  Northwest  armies 


XIV 


ilHgtorical  introduction 


were  to  be  launched  in  a  converging  attack 
upon  New  Orleans,  the  northern  force  being 
expected  to  capture  St.  Louis,  the  Spanish 
capital  of  Upper  Louisiana,  en  route. 

This  far-reaching  program,  the  execution  of 
which  might  well  have  sealed  the  doom  of  the 
entire  American  cause,  was  frustrated  largely 
through  the  energetic  course  of  Governor- 
general  Galvez  of  New  Orleans,  who  assumed 
the  aggressive  against  the  foe  and  in  two  sea¬ 
sons  of  campaigning  cleared  the  British  out 
of  the  Southwest,  capturing  Pensacola  in  May, 
1781.  The  northern  end  of  the  British  cam¬ 
paign  of  1780  met  with  like  disaster.  With 
the  aid  of  Matchekewis,  who  had  massacred 
the  British  garrison  at  Mackinac  in  1763,  and 
other  zealous  partisans,  a  motley  force  of  1000 
men  was  assembled  at  Prairie  du  Chien  at  the 
end  of  April  for  the  descent  of  the  great  river 
to  New  Orleans.  Before  St.  Louis  it  was  to  be 
joined  by  another  party,  which  Langlade  was 
to  gather  at  Chicago  and  lead  down  the  Illinois; 
while  the  combined  operation  was  to  be  covered 
by  still  another  army,  led  from  Detroit  by  Cap¬ 
tain  Henry  Bird,  which  was  to  descend  the  Wa¬ 
bash  against  General  Clark  at  the  falls  of  the 
Ohio,  where  now  is  the  metropolis  of  Kentucky. 

On  May  26  the  Wisconsin  contingent  ap¬ 
peared  before  St.  Louis  and  began  an  assault 
upon  the  town.  Driven  off  by  the  vigorous 
defense  of  the  Spaniards,  they  ravaged  the 
country-side  adjoining  the  town  and  beat  a 


XV 


historical  ^fntrotmcticm 


retreat  up  river,  their  haste  accelerated,  prob¬ 
ably,  by  the  opportune  appearance  of  their 
redoubtable  foeman,  George  Rogers  Clark,  at 
Cahokia,  across  the  river  from  St.  Louis. 
Clark  took  no  part  in  the  battle,  however,  nor 
in  the  resulting  pursuit,  for  the  arrival  of 
news  of  Bird’s  expedition  against  his  head¬ 
quarters  on  the  Ohio  caused  him  hastily  to 
return  to  the  defense  of  that  place.  He  left 
instructions  for  Colonel  Montgomery,  how¬ 
ever,  to  follow  and  harass  the  British  force, 
and  that  officer  advanced  northward  as  far 
as  Peoria  and  Rock  River,  ravaging  the  hostile 
Indian  towns  as  he  advanced. 

Particularly  in  Indian  warfare  was  rumor 
wont  to  magnify  actuality,  and  the  retreating 
British  forces  carried  back  to  Mackinac  and 
Detroit  exaggerated  reports  of  the  numbers  and 
movements  of  the  pursuing  Americans.  The 
consequent  expectation  of  their  appearance  at 
Prairie  du  Chien,  in  the  heart  of  the  British- 
Indian  country,  was  responsible  for  the  expedi¬ 
tion  which  Long  joined  and  of  which  he  has 
given  us  our  only  detailed  account. 

It  succeeded  in  its  object  of  preventing  the 
furs  from  faffing  into  American  hands,  but 
for  Long  personally  the  result  was  disappoint¬ 
ment.  Deprived  of  his  expected  remuneration, 
he  returned  in  the  autumn  of  1780  penniless  to 
Montreal,  leaving  forever  the  western  country 
to  which  he  had  devoted  three  years  of  stren¬ 
uous  endeavor. 


XVI 


pgtoricai  S^trotmction 


At  Montreal  Long  found  that  his  old  em¬ 
ployer  had  died,  and  under  the  necessity  of 
earning  a  living  he  engaged  with  a  merchant 
of  Quebec  to  go  again  among  the  Indians  in 
charge  of  a  trading  outfit. 

This  time  he  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Saguenay  River,  and  ascending  to  Lake  St. 
John,  passed  onward  across  the  “divide”  into 
a  country  which  still,  after  the  lapse  of  almost 
a  century  and  a  half,  is  largely  unknown.  The 
winter’s  trade  was  productive  of  satisfaction 
to  Long’s  employers,  but  it  brought  little  of 
permanent  profit  to  the  trader  himself.  Long 
seems,  indeed,  from  his  own  recital  of  the  facts, 
to  have  belonged  to  that  numerous  band  of 
individuals  who  are  capable  of  working  well 
under  competent  direction,  but  who  are  totally 
unable  to  get  on  in  business  for  themselves. 
Upon  the  vicissitudes  of  our  author’s  later 
career  it  is  unnecessary  here  to  dwell,  further 
than  to  note  the  fact  that  in  the  autumn  of 
1788,  after  twenty  years  spent  in  the  New 
World  he  returned  penniless  to  the  land  of  his 
birth. 

Of  Long’s  life  we  know  but  little  other  than 
the  pages  of  his  own  narrative  reveal.  This 
was  published  in  London  in  1791,  in  a  hand¬ 
some  volume  of  300  pages,  with  a  respectable 
list  of  subscribers  and  dedicated,  like  Henry’s 
book,  to  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  President  of  the 
Royal  Society.  It  seems  to  have  been  favor¬ 
ably  received  by  the  public,  and  was  quickly 
xvii 


ipi^torical  introduction 


translated  into  French  and  German.  A  second 
French  edition  appeared  in  1810,  and  in  1904 
the  work  was  reprinted  by  Reuben  G.  Thwaites 
as  Volume  II  of  his  series  of  Early  Western 
Travels. 

Dr.  Thwaites,  who  was  an  eminent  special¬ 
ist  in  the  field  of  early  western  history,  placed 
a  high  estimate  on  Long’s  narrative.  “His 
literary  style,”  says  the  editor,  “while  dis¬ 
cursive,  is  simple,  and  as  clear  as  running 
water.  What  he  wishes  to  say  he  says  plainly, 
leaving  the  reader  as  a  rule  to  draw  his  own 
conclusions.  There  is  an  unflinching  direct¬ 
ness  in  his  statements,  conveying  to  the  reader 
the  impression  that  he  is  concealing  nothing, 
doing  naught  for  effect,  but  telling  a  straight¬ 
forward  story  of  travels  and  adventures.  The 
book  forms  a  contribution  of  note  to  this  im¬ 
portant  class  of  literature,  and  will  always  be 
readable.” 

From  this  high  estimate  of  Long’s  work  the 
editor  of  the  present  edition  does  not,  in  the 
main,  dissent.  Yet  the  study  of  the  book  has 
given  rise  to  an  impression  which,  while  not 
susceptible  of  demonstration,  seems  worthy  to 
be  called  to  the  attention  of  the  reader.  Penni¬ 
less  Long  came  home  to  England,  and  his 
twenty  years’  residence  in  America  together 
with  the  manner  of  his  life  there  must  have 
rendered  him  peculiarly  unfitted  for  the  task 
of  earning  a  living.  He  had,  however,  a  story 
to  tell,  and  the  recent  success  of  Jonathan 
sviii 


i^igtorical  ^ntto&ucticm 


Carver’s  Travels  must  have  suggested  to  his 
mind  the  possibility  of  securing  an  income  by 
publishing  his  own  story.  The  careful  reader 
of  the  narrative  he  produced  will  be  struck 
by  its  extreme  discursiveness.  Simple,  sincere, 
and  straightforward  the  author  evidently  is. 
There  is  no  attempt  to  conceal,  or  gloss  over 
his  failures,  and  although  he  has  an  evident 
pride  in  his  Chippewa  vocabulary,  this  is  fairly 
matched  by  the  quite  unnecessary  degree  of 
modesty  and  self-deprecation  which  attends 
the  recital  of  his  geographical  discoveries. 

How  are  we  to  account  for  the  discursiveness 
which  characterizes,  and  to  a  degree  mars,  the 
narrative?  Reference  to  the  much-discussed 
book  of  Captain  Carver  suggests  the  answer. 
That  volume  consists  of  two  distinct  parts. 
Approximately  one-fourth  of  it  is  devoted  to 
Carver’s  personal  journal  of  his  travels;  the 
remaining  three-fourths  to  a  treatise  on  the 
manners  and  customs  of  the  Indian  tribes  of 
North  America.  Although  Carver  is  pro¬ 
fessedly  the  author  of  the  entire  work,  his¬ 
torical  critics  have  shown  that  this  second  part 
is  largely  a  compilation  from  earlier  and  for  the 
most  part  well-known  books  on  the  subject  of 
which  it  treats.  Apparently,  in  the  case  of 
both  Carver  and  Long  the  exigencies  of  book¬ 
making  and  marketing  demanded  a  larger 
book  than  the  simple  journal  of  the  traveler 
supplied.  The  solution  of  the  problem  in 
Carver’s  case  we  have  already  stated;  in  the 


XIX 


I^igtorical  introduction 


case  of  Long  the  opposite  method  is  followed 
of  interjecting  the  matter  descriptive  of  savage 
life  and  customs  into  the  midst  of  his  personal 
narrative.  So  extensively  is  this  done  that  no 
heading  can  be  devised  sufficiently  inclusive 
to  advertise  the  contents  of  the  chapter  to 
which  it  is  appended.  In  the  original  edition, 
practically  no  attempt  was  made  to  do  this; 
several  of  the  chapter  captions  conclude  with 
etc.,”  while  others  list  a  large  variety  of  topics 
in  the  vain  effort  to  include  them  all. 

An  interesting  question  arises  at  this  point. 
Did  Long  himself  prepare  the  completed  nar¬ 
rative  in  the  form  in  which  it  was  published? 
Or  was  his  personal  narrative  turned  over  to 
some  professional  writer  to  expand  to  the  pro¬ 
portions  desired  for  the  forthcoming  book? 
Our  existing  information  does  not  permit  an 
answer,  nor  is  it,  from  the  historical  viewpoint, 
of  much  importance.  The  portions  of  the 
story  which  are  not  based  on  Long’s  experi¬ 
ences  and  observations  are  confessedly  of 
second-hand  authority,  and  it  is  not  very 
material  whether  Long  or  someone  else  per¬ 
formed  the  task  of  culling  them  from  the  works 
that  are  cited.  It  may  be  noticed  in  passing, 
however,  that  here  is  no  question  of  plagiarism, 
as  in  the  much-mooted  case  of  Carver’s  Travels, 
for  Long  is  commonly  careful  to  state  the 
source  of  his  information,  citing  definitely  in 
the  course  of  the  book  no  less  than  seventeen 
authorities. 


XX 


^i-Storical  ^ntrotmction 


It  will  perhaps  be  evident  from  the  foregoing 
that  the  present  edition  of  the  work  is  in  no 
sense  a  facsimile  of  the  original.  As  in  previous 
volumes  of  the  Lakeside  Classics,  I  have  con¬ 
ceived  it  to  be  my  function  as  editor  to  bring 
the  present-day  reader  as  close  to  the  author 
himself  as  circumstances  permit.  It  is  quite 
improbable  that  Long  was  responsible  for  the 
punctuation,  typography,  etc.,  of  the  first 
edition,  these  details  being  determined  as  a 
matter  of  course  by  the  publishers.  So,  too, 
in  the  present  volume  the  editor  is  responsible 
for  the  typography,  punctuation,  chapter  and 
running  heads,  table  of  contents,  and  index. 
In  some  cases,  too,  the  spelling  has  been 
modernized,  and  some  evident  misprints  in 
the  original  edition  have  been  corrected.  The 
map  and  title  page  are  engraved  from  photo¬ 
graphic  reproductions  made  from  the  1791 
edition  of  the  work. 

Milo  M.  Quaife. 

Madison,  Wisconsin. 


xxi 


VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS 

OF  AN 

INDIAN  INTERPRETER  AND  TRADER, 


DESCRI  B!  NG 

The  Manners  and  Customs 

OF  THE 

NORTH  AMERICAN  INDIANS; 


WITH 

AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  POSTS 

SITUATED  ON 

THE  RIVER  SAINT  LAURENCE,  LAKE  ONTARIO,  &c. 

TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED, 

A  VOCABULARY 

O  F 

The  Chippeway  Language. 

Names  of  Furs  and  Skins,  in  English  and  French. 

A  LIST  OF  WO  R  D  S 

IN  THE 

IROQUOIS,  MOHEGAN,  SHAWANEE,  AND  ESQUIMEAUX  TONGUES, 

AND  A  TABLE,  SHEWING 

The  Analogy  between  the  Algonkin  and  Chippeway  Languages. 


BY  J.  LONG. 


LONDON: 

PRINTED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR;  AND  SOLD  BY  ROBSON,  BOND-STREET;  DEBRETT, 
Piccadilly;  t.and  j.egerton,charing-cross;  white  and  son,  fleet- 
street;  SEWE  L  L,  CORN  H  I  LL  ;  EDWARDS,  PALL-MALL;  AND  MESSRS.  TAY¬ 
LORS,  HOLBORN,  LONDON;  FLETCHER,  OXFORD;  AND  BULL,  BATH. 


M,DCC,XCI. 


preface  to  t^e  #ttgtnal 
tuition 


THE  reader  will  naturally  expect  some 
account  of  this  work. 

With  regard  to  the  historical  part,  I 
have  endeavored  to  explain  the  situation  of  the 
posts  which,  by  Mr.  Oswald’s  Treaty,1  were 
stipulated  to  be  surrendered  to  the  Americans, 
and  pointed  out  their  convenience  to  Great 
Britain  in  a  political  and  commercial  point  of 
view.  I  have  also  given  a  description  of  the 
Five  and  Six  Nation  Indians,  and  endeavored 
to  show  the  usefulness,  as  well  as  necessity,  of 
a  strict  alliance  with  them  as  long  as  we  retain 
any  possessions  in  Canada. 

With  respect  to  the  descriptions  of  lakes, 
rivers,  etc.,  which  lie  beyond  Lake  Superior, 
from  Lake  Nipigon  to  Lake  Arbitibis,  I  have 
given  them  as  accurately  as  possible,  either 
from  my  own  knowledge  or  the  most  authentic 
Indian  accounts;  and  when  it  is  considered 
that  interpreters  in  the  commercial  line  seldom 
have  occasion  for  any  geographical  knowledge, 
the  want  of  better  information  will  be  ex¬ 
cused. 

'The  Treaty  of  Paris  of  1783,  which  formally  ter¬ 
minated  the  Revolutionary  War. 


xxv 


Original  preface 


The  vocabulary  which  is  subjoined,2  and  on 
which  I  have  bestowed  some  pains,  it  is  hoped 
will  not  only  afford  information  to  such  as  may 
be  desirous  of  attaining  a  knowledge  of  the 
Chippewa  language,  but  prove  useful  to  those 
who  are  already  engaged  in  traffic  with  the 
Indians. 

As  the  mode  of  spelling  a  language  which  has 
never  been  reduced  to  a  grammatical  system 
must  be  arbitrary,  and  principally  depend  on 
the  ear,  I  have  endeavored  to  use  such  letters 
as  best  agree  with  the  English  pronunciation, 
avoiding  a  multiplicity  of  consonants,  which 
only  perplex:  and  to  enable  the  reader  to 
speak  so  as  to  be  understood  by  the  natives, 
it  is  necessary  to  observe  that  a  is  generally 
sounded  broad,  and  e  final  never  pronounced 
but  in  monosyllables. 

The  following  are  the  motives  which  induced 
me  to  make  the  vocabulary  in  the  Chippewa 
language  so  copious: 

In  the  first  place  it  is,  strictly  speaking,  one 
of  the  mother  tongues  of  North  America,  and 
universally  spoken  in  council  by  the  chiefs 
who  reside  about  the  Great  Lakes,  to  the  west¬ 
ward  of  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  as  far 
south  as  the  Ohio,  and  as  far  north  as  Hudson 
Bay;  notwithstanding  many  of  the  tribes, 

2  The  extensive  Indian  vocabulary  which  Long  pro¬ 
vided  as  an  appendix  to  his  work  bears  no  relation  to 
the  narrative  journal,  and  it  is  therefore  omitted  from 
the  present  edition  of  the  work. 

xxvi 


(Original  preface 


within  the  space  of  territory  I  have  described, 
speak  in  common  a  different  language.  This 
observation  is  confirmed  by  authors  of  estab¬ 
lished  repute,  and  further  proved  by  the  con¬ 
current  testimony  of  the  Indian  interpreters. 

Baron  de  Lahontan3  asserts  that  the  Algon- 
kin  is  a  mother  tongue,  and  that  it  is  in  as  much 
estimation  in  North  America  as  Greek  and 
Latin  in  Europe:  this  being  admitted,  I  am 
persuaded  the  Chippewa  language  possesses 
as  much,  if  not  greater  merit,  as  it  is  in  every 
respect  better  understood* by  the  Northwest 
Indians.  But  as  the  knowledge  of  both  may 
not  only  be  useful,  but  necessary,  I  have  given 
a  comparative  table  of  about  two  hundred  and 
sixty  words  in  both  tongues,  that  the  reader 
may  use  either  as  he  shall  find  it  best  under¬ 
stood  by  the  tribes  with  whom  he  may  have 
occasion  to  trade;  though  he  will  find,  in  a 
variety  of  instances,  a  perfect  accordance. 

The  table  of  words  in  the  Muhhekaneew,  or 
Mohegan,  and  Shawnee  tongues,  are  extracted 

3  Baron  de  Lahontan  was  a  French  officer  who  spent 
the  ten  years  from  1683  to  1693  in  New  France.  Re¬ 
turning  to  his  native  land,  he  published  in  1703  a  read¬ 
able  and  vivacious  account  of  his  travels  in  America', 
which  obtained  widespread  popularity.  Although  long 
regarded  as  an  authoritative  work,  it  later  became 
evident  that  Lahontan,  like  Father  Hennepin,  did  not 
in  fact  visit  some  of  the  country  he  claimed  to  have 
explored,  and  the  work  fell  into  disrepute  among 
scholars.  Lahontan’s  fiction  of  a  non-existent  Long 
River  in  modern  Minnesota,  which  he  claimed  to  have 
ascended,  long  disfigured  the  maps  of  this  region. 

xxvii 


Original  preface 


from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Edwards’  publication,4  and 
are  inserted  to  show  their  analogy  with  the 
Chippewa  language;  and  as  he  observes  that 
the  language  of  the  Delawares  in  Pennsylvania, 
of  the  Penobscots  on  the  borders  of  Nova 
Scotia,  of  the  Indians  of  St.  Francis,  in  Canada, 
of  the  Shawnees  on  the  Ohio,  and  many  other 
tribes  of  savages  radically  agree,  I  judged  the 
tables  of  analogy  would  not  be  unacceptable. 

In  the  course  of  the  historical  part,  several 
speeches  in  the  Chippewa  language  are  intro¬ 
duced,  and  at  the  end  of  the  vocabulary  a  num¬ 
ber  of  familiar  phrases,  which  not  only  serve 
to  show  the  mode  of  speech,  but  give  a  better 
idea  of  the  language  than  single  words. 

The  numeral  payshik,  or  one,  is  frequently 
used  to  express  the  articles  a  and  the;  and  woke 
is  the  general  word  for  the  plural  number, 
though  not  always  used. 

Mr.  Carver’s  vocabulary5  will,  in  many  in¬ 
stances,  be  found  to  differ  from  the  Chippewa; 

4  The  allusion  is  to  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  the 
famous  New  England  preacher  and  scholar. 

5  Jonathan  Carver  was  a  native  of  Connecticut  who 
came  west  to  Mackinac  in  1776,  and  from  there  made  a 
journey  into  Minnesota  and  the  Lake  Superior  region. 
Returning,  he  went  to  England,  where  he  published  a 
book  of  Travels  in  1778  and  died  in  utmost  poverty  two 
years  later.  The  book  proved  widely  popular,  and  went 
through  numerous  editions,  but  like  Lahontan’s  nar¬ 
rative,  serious  question  has  arisen  concerning  its 
reliability.  To  the  present  editor,  the  first  part  of 
Carver’s  book,  devoted  to  the  narrative  journal  of  his 

xxviii 


Original  preface 


but  when  it  is  considered  that  though  he  calls 
it  the  Chippewa  vocabulary,  on  page  414  of  his 
work  he  says,  “The  Chippewa,  or  Algonkin,” 
which  evidently  proves  that  he  believes  them 
the  same  language: — but  with  regard  to  the 
usefulness  of  the  tongue,  there  is  a  perfect 
corroboration  of  sentiment;  for  he  remarks 
that  the  Chippewa  tongue  appears  to  be  the 
most  prevailing  of  all  the  Indian  languages. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  observe  that  the 
Chippewa  tongue  as  spoken  by  the  servants  of 
the  Hudson’s  Bay  Company  is  somewhat  dif¬ 
ferent,  though  not  essentially  so,  and  is  called 
by  them  the  Home-Guard  language. 

With  regard  to  the  Iroquois,  or  Mohawk 
tongue,  which  is  peculiar  to  the  Five  and  Six 
Nation  Indians,  it  is  not  necessary  in  the  fur 
trade  beyond  Michilimackinac;  and  if  it  were, 
there  are  not  wanting  printed  authorities 
sufficient  to  instruct.  This  consideration  has 
induced  me  to  give  only  the  numerals,  and  a 
few  words  in  the  language. 

I  have  not  anything  further  to  add,  but  a 
sincere  wish  that  my  labors  may  prove  useful 
to  the  world;  and  that  whatever  defects  may 
be  found  in  the  following  work,  the  public  will 

travels,  seems  worthy  of  credit.  The  second  part  on 
the  manners  and  customs  of  the  Indian  tribes  is  clearly 
a  compilation  from  earlier  and  in  the  main  unacknowl¬ 
edged  sources.  It  is  greatly  to  Carver’s  credit  that  he 
foresaw,  and  in  eloquent  language  foretold,  the  great¬ 
ness  of  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley  as  the  seat  of  a 
future  English  civilization. 


xxix 


Original  preface 


look  on  them  with  candor,  and  will  recollect 
that  they  are  perusing,  not  the  pages  of  a 
professed  tourist,  but  such  observations  as 
a  commercial  man  flatters  himself  may  be 
found  acceptable  to  the  merchant  and  the 
philosopher. 


XXX 


John  Long’s 
Voyages  and  Travels 


Chapter  i 


REMOVAL  TO  AMERICA 

HAVING  engaged  myself  at  an  early  period 
of  life  to  go  to  North  America,  in  the 
quality  of  an  articled  clerk,  I  left  Graves¬ 
end  on  the  tenth  of  April,  1768  on  board  the 
Canada,  Captain  Smith,  bound  to  Quebec  and 
Montreal.  We  had  a  pleasant  voyage  till  we 
reached  the  coast  of  America,  when  the  weather 
proving  unfavorable,  we  were  obliged  to  put 
into  Newfoundland,  where  we  stayed  fourteen 
days.  Nothing  remarkable  occurred  here,  ex¬ 
cept  that  a  party  went  on  shore  to  hunt,  and 
one  of  them,  Mr.  Jordan,  who  was  a  passenger 
bound  to  Montreal,  finding  himself  much 
fatigued,  remained  in  the  woods.  The  rest 
returned  on  board  in  the  evening,  anxiously 
expecting  their  companion;  but  after  four  days’ 
painful  solicitude,  not  being  able  to  obtain  any 
intelligence  of  him,  we  gave  up  all  hopes  of 
seeing  him  again;  and  as  the  snow  was  deep  on 
the  ground  and  the  wild  animals  numerous,  we 
supposed  him  to  be  either  frozen  to  death  or 
devoured  by  the  beasts.  Just  as  the  Captain 
proposed  setting  sail  an  Indian  came  on 
board,  to  whom  we  endeavored  to  communi¬ 
cate  our  distress.  On  this  occasion  he  seemed 
to  understand  us,  and  made  signs  of  his  inten- 


3 


‘Jofm  Song 


tion  to  go  in  search  of  him;  and  being  fur¬ 
nished  with  some  rum  by  way  of  encourage¬ 
ment,  he  got  into  his  canoe  and  paddled 
ashore.  The  Captain,  with  great  humanity, 
deferred  prosecuting  the  voyage  for  some  time: 
but  the  Indian  not  returning,  we  left  New¬ 
foundland,  and  after  a  tedious  passage  of 
near  eleven  weeks,  arrived  at  Quebec,  the 
capital  of  Canada. 

When  the  Spaniards  (who  first  discovered 
this  northern  clime)  sailed  past  Cape  Rosiers 
at  the  entrance  of  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  the 
mountains  now  called  the  Mountains  of  Notre 
Dame  were  covered  with  snow.  Such  a  pros¬ 
pect,  in  the  summer  season,  gave  them  a  very 
unfavorable  opinion  of  the  country,  and  they 
were  deterred  from  going  up  the  river,  sup¬ 
posing  the  land  to  be  too  barren  to  recompense 
their  labors  at  present,  or  afford  any  future 
advantages;  and  the  same  impressions  induced 
them  to  call  it  Capo  di  Nada,  or  Cape  Nothing, 
by  which  name  it  is  described  in  their  charts, 
and  from  whence,  by  corruption  of  language, 
it  has  derived  its  present  name  of  Canada.6 

The  River  St.  Lawrence  takes  its  rise  from 
Lake  Nipissing,  northeast  of  Lake  Superior, 
about  the  distance  of  2,000  miles  from 

6  The  real  origin  of  the  word  Canada  is  involved  in 
uncertainty  and  dispute.  The  version  here  presented 
serves  to  call  attention  to  the  extensive  early  explora¬ 
tions  and  claims  of  the  Spaniards  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  of  North  America. 


4 


Bopage£  anti 


Quebec.7  The  breadth  of  it  is  90  miles  at  the 
entrance,  and  it  is  navigable  nearly  500  miles 
from  the  sea. 

The  Isle  of  Orleans,  which  is  but  a  small  dis¬ 
tance  from  the  city,  is  a  beautiful  spot  of  ground, 
about  twenty  miles  in  length  and  six  in  breadth. 
The  fertility  of  the  soil  makes  it  a  useful  and 
valuable  garden,  insomuch  that  it  supplies  the 
capital  with  vegetables  and  grain  in  great 
abundance.  The  opposite  village  of  Beauport 
also  charms  the  eye,  and  very  much  height¬ 
ens  the  scene,  which  is  rich,  romantic,  and 
magnificent. 

The  Fall  of  Montmorenci  particularly  at¬ 
tracted  my  notice,  as  it  is  perhaps  the  most 
pleasing  natural  cascade  in  the  world;  and 
though  its  height  and  width  are  not  to  be  com¬ 
pared  in  point  of  awful  grandeur  with  the 
stupendous  cataract  of  Niagara,  it  is  sufficient¬ 
ly  wonderful  to  show  the  power  of  the  great 
Architect  of  the  Universe,  and  its  effects  are 
more  pleasing  than  the  latter;  for  while  it  pro¬ 
duces  wonder  and  pleasure  in  the  highest  de¬ 
gree,  it  does  not  strike  the  beholder  with  such 
tremendous  ideas. 

As  our  ship  was  bound  to  Montreal  as  well 
as  Quebec,  and  I  was  under  the  Captain’s  care 

7  The  St.  Lawrence,  of  course,  takes  its  rise  in  the 
Great  Lakes,  whose  remotest  source  may  perhaps  be 
logically  regarded  as  the  source  of  the  river.  Appar¬ 
ently  Long  chose  to  regard  Lake  Nipissing,  which  lies 
to  the  northeast  of  Lake  Huron,  as  the  source  of  the 
St.  Lawrence. 


S 


^oljn  Song 


and  direction,  he  did  not  allow  me  to  go  on 
shore  at  the  latter  place;  but  in  a  few  days,  to 
my  great  joy,  we  arrived  safe  at  Montreal,  the 
place  of  our  last  destination. 

Montreal,  formerly  called  Ville  Marie,  has 
nothing  remarkable  in  it  at  present.  It  was 
formerly  famous  for  a  great  fair,  which  lasted 
near  three  months,  and  was  resorted  to  by  the 
Indians,  who  came  from  the  distance  of  many 
hundreds  of  miles  to  barter  their  peltry  for 
English  goods.8  It  will  give  pleasure  to  the 
reader  to  be  informed  that  we  received  here 
the  agreeable  intelligence  that  Mr.  Jordan  was 
found  in  the  woods,  two  days  after  our  de¬ 
parture  from  Newfoundland,  though  with  the 
loss  of  his  feet,  occasioned  by  the  severity  of 
the  weather;  he  went  afterwards  in  a  vessel  to 
Trois  Rivieres,  where  he  settled  in  an  iron 
foundry. 

Trois  Rivieres  is  so  called  from  the  junction 
of  three  currents  which  empty  themselves  into 
the  River  St.  Lawrence.  About  a  league  from 
the  town  there  is  an  iron  foundry,  which  was 
erected  by  private  persons  in  the  year  1737  and 

8  In  the  early  period  of  the  fur  trade  the  Northwestern 
Indians  annually  made  the  long  pilgrimage  to  Montreal 
there  to  barter  their  furs  for  the  goods  of  the  French¬ 
men.  This  was  the  “great  fair”  to  which  our  author 
alludes.  Before  long,  however,  the  competition  of  the 
Dutch  and  English  for  the  Indian  trade  compelled  the 
French  traders  to  carry  their  goods  to  the  Indians  and 
the  visits  of  the  picturesque  cavalcades  of  the  latter  to 
Montreal  ceased. 


6 


t^opageg  anti  Crabds 


afterward  ceded  to  the  King.  At  first  cannon 
and  mortars  were  cast  there,  but  it  is  now 
principally  used  in  the  manufacture  of  stoves 
and  kettles.  The  ore  is  taken  at  a  small  dis¬ 
tance  from  the  works.  A  river  runs  down  from 
the  foundry  into  the  River  St.  Lawrence, 
which  enables  the  proprietors  to  send  their 
manufactures  round  the  country  in  boats  on 
very  moderate  terms. 

This  town,  which  is  half  way  between  Que¬ 
bec  and  Montreal,  had  formerly  a  very  con¬ 
siderable  trade  in  peltry  and  was  the  second 
mart  in  Canada;  but  in  process  of  time  the 
inhabitants  of  Montreal  contrived  to  draw 
almost  all  the  fur  trade  to  themselves;  and 
though  the  residents  in  Trois  Rivieres  live  by 
their  commerce  with  the  savages,  and  the 
manufacturing  of  birch  canoes,  yet  the  town 
has  lost  that  rank  and  consequence  which  it 
formerly  maintained;  nevertheless,  the  advan¬ 
tage  of  the  iron  foundry  makes  them  some 
amends,  and  they  live,  upon  the  whole,  as 
happy  as  any  people  in  Canada.  The  inhabit¬ 
ants  of  Trois  Rivieres  were  formerly  very 
much  incommoded  with  fleas,  which  swarmed 
in  great  quantities,  and  which,  Baron  de 
Lahontan  humorously  observes,  occasioned 
an  inconvenient  quickness  in  conversation. 

On  my  arrival  at  Montreal  I  was  placed 
under  the  care  of  a  very  respectable  merchant 
to  learn  the  Indian  trade,  which  is  the  chief 
support  of  the  town.  I  soon  acquired  the 


^ofjn  Hong 


names  of  every  article  of  commerce  in  the 
Iroquois  and  French  languages,  and  being  at 
once  prepossessed  in  favor  of  the  savages,  im¬ 
proved  daily  in  their  tongue,  to  the  satisfac¬ 
tion  of  my  employer,  who  approving  my 
assiduity,  and  wishing  me  to  be  completely 
qualified  in  the  Mohawk  language  to  enable 
me  to  traffic  with  the  Indians  in  his  absence, 
sent  me  to  a  village  called  Cahnuaga,  or  Cock- 
nawaga,9  situated  about  nine  miles  from 
Montreal,  on  the  south  side  of  the  River  St. 
Lawrence,  where  I  lived  with  a  chief  whose 
name  was  Assenegethter  until  I  was  sufficiently 
instructed  in  the  language,  and  then  returned 
to  my  master’s  store  to  improve  myself  in 
French,  which  is  not  only  universally  spoken 
in  Canada,  but  is  absolutely  necessary  in  the 
commercial  intercourse  with  the  natives,  and 
without  which  it  would  be  impossible  to  enjoy 
the  society  of  the  most  respectable  families, 
who  are  in  general  ignorant  of  the  English 
language. 

9  Usually  spelled  Caughnawaga.  An  account  of  it  is 
given  by  Long  in  the  succeeding  chapter.  Eleazer 
Williams,  the  Wisconsin  missionary  preacher,  who, 
about  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century,  attracted 
widespread  interest  through  his  claim  to  be  the  famous 
“lost  dauphin”  of  France,  the  son  of  Louis  XVI  and 
Marie  Antoinette,  was  a  mixed-blood  Indian  belonging 
to  this  village. 


8 


Chapter  2 


THE  VILLAGE  OF  CAUGHNAWAGA 

THE  savages  of  this  nation,  who  are  called 
the  praying  Indians,  from  the  circum¬ 
stance  of  their  chiefs  wearing  crucifixes 
and  going  through  the  streets  of  Montreal  with 
their  beads,  begging  alms,  separated  long  since 
from  the  Mohawk  and  River  Indians,  and  for 
a  considerable  time  after  their  separation 
carried  on  an  illicit  trade  between  Albany  and 
Montreal.  The  village  contains  about  200 
houses,  which  though  they  are  chiefly  built  of 
stone,  have  a  mean  and  dirty  appearance.  The 
inhabitants  amount  to  about  800  and  (what  is 
contrary  to  the  general  observation  on  the 
population  of  the  Indians)  are  continually  in¬ 
creasing.  It  is  considered  as  the  most  respect¬ 
able  of  all  the  Indian  villages,  and  the  people 
are  in  a  great  degree  civilized  and  industrious. 
They  sow  corn,  and  do  not  depend  like  other 
nations  solely  upon  hunting  for  support;  but 
at  the  same  time,  they  are  not  fond  of  laborious 
work,  conceiving  it  only  suited  to  those  who 
are  less  free,  and  retaining  so  much  of  their 
primeval  valor  and  independence  as  to  annex 
the  idea  of  slavery  to  every  domestic  employ¬ 
ment.  Their  hunting  grounds  are  within  the 
United  States,  at  a  considerable  distance  from 
9 


Hong 


the  village,  round  Fort  George,  Ticonderoga 
and  Crown  Point,  where  they  kill  beaver  and 
deer,  but  not  in  such  great  abundance  at 
present  as  they  did  formerly,  the  country  being 
better  inhabited,  and  the  wild  animals,  from 
the  present  state  of  population,  being  obliged 
to  seek  a  more  distant  and  secure  retreat.  The 
skins  they  obtain  are  generally  brought  down 
to  Montreal,  and  either  sold  for  money  or 
bartered  for  goods.  It  is  not  improbable  that 
in  a  few  years  there  will  not  be  many  good 
hunters  among  them,  as  they  are  extravagantly 
fond  of  dress,  and  that  too  of  the  most  expen¬ 
sive  kind.  Their  fondness  for  this  luxury, 
which  the  profits  arising  from  the  lands  they 
let  out  to  the  Canadians  enable  them  to  in¬ 
dulge,  contributes  to  make  them  more  idle; 
and  in  proportion  as  their  vanity  increases, 
ease  and  indolence  are  the  more  eagerly  courted 
and  gratified,  insomuch  that  hunting  is  in 
danger  of  being  totally  abandoned.  Their 
religion  is  Catholic,  and  they  have  a  French 
priest  or,  as  the  Chippewa  Indians  term  it, 
The  Master  of  Life’s  Man,  who  instructs  them 
and  performs  divine  service  in  the  Iroquois 
tongue.  Their  devotion  impressed  my  mind 
too  powerfully  to  suffer  it  to  pass  unnoticed, 
and  induces  me  to  observe  that  great  praise  is 
due  to  their  pastors,  who  by  unwearied  assidu¬ 
ity  and  their  own  exemplary  lives  and  con¬ 
versation,  have  converted  a  savage  race  of 
beings  from  Heathenism  to  Christianity,  and 

IO 


Bopage£  anti  Crabcte 


by  uniformity  of  conduct  continue  to  preserve 
both  their  religion  and  themselves  in  the 
esteem  of  their  converts;  an  example  worthy 
of  imitation,  and  amounting  to  an  incontro¬ 
vertible  proof  that  Nature  in  her  most  degen¬ 
erate  state  may  be  reclaimed  by  those  who  are 
sincere  in  their  endeavors,  gentle  in  their 
manners,  and  consistent  in  the  general  tenor 
of  their  behavior.  And  it  is  to  be  expected, 
and  certainly  most  ardently  to  be  wished,  that 
the  savage  temper  among  them  may  in  time 
be  more  effectually  subdued,  their  natural 
impetuosity  softened  and  restrained,  and  their 
minds  weaned  from  their  unhappy  attachment 
to  the  use  of  strong  liquors,  their  indulgence  in 
which  is  frequently  attended  with  the  most 
melancholy  and  fatal  consequences. 


Chapter  3 


CONCERNING  THE  IROQUOIS  OR  FIVE 
NATIONS  INDIANS 

I  SHALL  now  give  a  particular  account  of  the 
Indians  of  the  Five  and  Six  Nations,  and 
the  reasons  why  they  are  so  called,  in  order 
to  enable  the  reader  to  form  an  idea  of  their 
consequence  in  a  political  point  of  view,  as 
well  as  their  importance  on  account  of  the  fur 
trade;  because  the  vicinity  of  the  American 
territories,  from  Georgia  to  New  England, 
gives  the  United  States  a  great  command  and 
influence  from  their  situation,  and  renders 
them  more  to  be  dreaded  than  even  the  French 
were  in  the  zenith  of  their  American  power, 
when  it  was  universally  known  they  had  such 
an  interest  among  the  savages  as  induced  them 
to  call  the  French  their  fathers,  and  of  which 
so  much  yet  remains  as  to  prompt  them  to 
retain  a  predilection  in  favor  of  the  traders  of 
the  Gallic  race  who  are  settled  among  them. 

In  1603,  when  the  French  settled  in  Canada, 
part  of  the  Five  Nations  resided  on  the  island 
of  Montreal,  and  were  at  war  with  the  Adiron- 
dacks  (who  lived  on  the  Ottawa,  or  Grand 
River  leading  to  Michilimackinac) ;  these  con¬ 
sidered  the  Five  Nations  as  very  insignificant 
opponents  and  incapable  of  serious  revenge, 


1£opage£  anti  €rabd£ 


and  they  were  held  in  as  much  derision  as  the 
Delawares,  who  were  usually  called  old  women, 
or  the  Shawnees  (who  lived  on  the  Wabash 
River),  who  were  obliged  to  wear  petticoats 
for  a  considerable  time,  in  contempt  of  their 
want  of  courage  and  as  a  badge  of  their  pu¬ 
sillanimity  and  degradation.  But  as  no  people 
can  bear  the  imputation  of  cowardice  or 
effeminacy  as  a  national  character,  the  chiefs 
determined  to  rouse  their  young  men,  and 
stimulate  them  to  retrieve,  or  establish,  a 
reputation;  and  inspiring  them  with  heroic 
notions,  led  them  to  war  against  the  Satanas, 
or  Shaounons,  whom  they  subdued  with  great 
ease.  This  success  revived  their  drooping 
spirits,  and  forgetting  how  often  they  had  been 
defeated  by  the  Adirondacks  [they]  commenced 
hostilities  against  them,  and  availing  them¬ 
selves  of  the  mean  opinion  their  enemies 
entertained  of  their  valor,  gained  the  victory 
in  several  actions,  and  at  last  carried  on  a 
successful  war  against  them  even  in  their  own 
country,  obliging  their  former  conquerors  to 
abandon  their  native  land  and  seek  refuge  on 
the  spot  where  Quebec  is  now  situated. 

Soon  after  the  French  arrived  and  had 
settled  at  Quebec,  they  formed  an  alliance  with 
the  Adirondacks  against  the  Five  Nations. 
The  first  engagement  proved  decisive  in  favor 
of  the  Adirondacks,  owing  entirely  to  the  use 
of  firearms  having  been  introduced  among 
them  by  their  new  allies,  which  the  Indians  of 


13 


3long 


the  Five  Nations  had  never  before  seen.  This 
alliance,  and  the  consequent  defeat,  was  far 
from  subduing  or  disheartening  the  Five 
Nations,  but  rather  seemed  to  inspire  them 
with  additional  ardor,  and  what  they  were 
deficient  in  military  skill  and  suitable  weapons 
they  supplied  by  stratagem  and  courage.  Al¬ 
though  the  French  gained  several  advantages 
over  them  in  the  course  of  more  than  fifteen 
years,  they  at  length  were  glad  to  bring  the 
contest  to  a  conclusion  by  making  a  peace 
with  them. 

This  shows  that  the  savages  of  the  Five 
Nations  are  not  easily  to  be  conquered,  and 
proves  the  necessity  of  preserving  them  in  our 
interest  as  long  as  we  shall  deem  it  expedient, 
from  policy,  to  keep  possession  of  Canada. 
This  being  admitted,  it  is  certain  that  no 
method  will  more  effectually  conduce  to  that 
end  than  retaining  such  barriers  in  our  hands 
as  will  enable  us  to  afford  them  protection, 
and  supply  them  with  arms  and  ammunition 
and  other  necessaries  in  time  of  danger. 

The  Indians  who  lie  to  the  north  of  Phila¬ 
delphia,  between  the  province  of  Pennsylvania 
and  the  Lakes,  consist  of  three  distinct  leagues, 
of  which  the  Senecas,  Mohawks,  and  Onon- 
dagas,  who  are  called  the  fathers,  compose  the 
first;  the  Oneidas,  Cayugas,  Tuscaroras,  Con- 
oys,  and  Nanticokes,  which  are  one  tribe,  com¬ 
pose  the  second,  and  these  two  leagues  consti¬ 
tute  what  is  called  the  Six  Nations.  The  third 


14 


Bopage£  and  €ratod£ 


league  is  formed  of  the  Wanamis,  Chihokockis, 
or  Delawares,  the  Mawhiccons,  Munseys,  and 
Wapingers,  to  which  may  be  added  the  Min- 
goes.  The  Cowetas,  or  Creek  Indians,  are  also 
united  in  friendship  with  them. 

Mr.  Colden  says10  the  nations  who  are 
jointed  together  by  a  league  or  confederacy, 
like  the  United  Provinces  of  Holland,  are 
known  by  the  names  of  Mohawks,  Oneidas, 
Onondagas,  Cayugas,  and  Senecas;  that  each 
of  these  nations  is  again  divided  into  three 
tribes  or  families,  who  are  distinguished  by 
the  names  of  the  Tortoise,  Bear,  and  Wolf;  and 
that  the  Tuscaroras,  after  the  war  they  had 
with  the  people  of  Carolina,  fled  to  the  Five 
Nations  and  incorporated  with  them,  so  that 
in  fact  they  now  consist  of  six,  although  they 
still  retain  the  name  of  the  Five  Nations.11 
This  union  is  of  such  long  duration  as  to  leave 
little  or  no  traces  of  its  origin. 

Baron  Lahontan  observes  that  the  Iroquois 
are  in  reality  but  one  nation,  divided  into 
five  districts;  and  which  he  distinguishes  in 
the  following  manner:  The  Tsonontouans,  the 
Goyogans,  the  Onontagues,  the  Oneyouts,  and 

10  Cadwallader  Colden  of  New  York  was  the  author 
of  a  History  of  the  Five  Indian  Nations  (New  York, 
1727),  from  which  Long  drew  much  of  the  data  for  the 
present  chapter. 

11  The  Tuscarora  tribe  migrated  northward  and 
joined  the  Iroquois  confederacy  at  the  dose  of  Queen 
Anne’s  War,  some  three-quarters  of  a  century  before 
Long’s  narrative  was  written. 


IS 


^of)n  Hong 


the  Agnies,  who  were  all  settled  about  thirty 
leagues  from  each  other,  near  the  great  Lake 
Frontenac,  now  called  Ontario. 

The  Mohawks,  or  Maquas,  are  the  most  war¬ 
like  among  the  Five  Nations  and  consist  of 
nearly  seven  hundred  warriors.  They  are 
called  by  the  French,  Agnies,  or  Annies,  and 
were  originally  settled  on  the  French  or  Grand 
River,  leading  to  Michilimackinac,  from 
whence  they  afterwards  removed  to  the  Mo¬ 
hawk  River,  near  Schenectady,  about  sixteen 
miles  from  Albany,  in  the  state  of  New  York. 
Since  the  war  in  1757  they  have  separated, 
and  part  of  the  nation  is  settled  on  the  Grand 
River,  near  Niagara,  and  the  rest  at  the  back 
of  the  bay  of  Quenty,  or  Kenty,  about  forty- 
eight  miles  above  Cataraqui,  the  capital  of 
the  Loyalist  settlements12  on  the  River  St. 
Lawrence. 

Cataraqui,  or  Fort  Frontenac,  is  built  near 
to  the  place  where  Lake  Ontario  discharges 
itself  into  the  River  St.  Lawrence.  It  was 
erected  by  Le  Comte  de  Frontenac,  governor 
general  of  Canada,  to  stop  the  incursions  of 
the  Iroquois,  and  divert  the  channel  of  the 

12  At  the  close  of  the  American  Revolution  many 
thousand  Tories,  or  Loyalists,  were  either  forcibly 
expelled  from  the  colonies  or  deemed  it  desirable  to 
expatriate  themselves.  Large  numbers  of  them  went 
into  the  Canadian  wilds  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
province  of  Upper  Canada.  Their  descendants  sub¬ 
sequently  bore  an  important  part  in  the  War  of  1812 
against  the  United  States. 


Bopage£  anti  €rabri£ 


commerce  in  peltry  which  that  people  carried 
on  with  the  inhabitants  of  New  York,  and 
which  they  bartered  for  with  the  savages  by 
merchandise,  at  a  cheaper  rate  than  the 
French  could  supply  them. 

This  fort  was  at  first  built  of  wood  and  turf, 
and  surrounded  with  high  pickets,  but  during 
the  mission  of  Father  Hennepin,  it  was  faced 
with  stone,  by  the  direction  of  the  Sieur 
Cavelier  de  la  Salle,  and  enlarged  to  a  circuit 
of  more  than  700  yards.  The  basin  in  which  it 
stands  is  capable  of  holding  a  number  of  ves¬ 
sels  of  considerable  burden.  There  is  a  small 
garrison  at  present,  and  a  commanding  officer, 
to  examine  all  boats  which  pass  either  to  the 
new  settlements  or  the  upper  posts. 

The  Oneidas,  or  Oneyouts,  the  Onondagas, 
Cayugas,  Senecas,  or  Tsonontouans,  and  the 
Tuscaroras,  who  live  with  the  Oneidas  and 
Onondagas,  are  settled  about  thirty  leagues 
distant  from  each  other,  and  none  of  them 
exceeding  250  miles  from  the  Mohawk  River. 
All  these  nations  express  peace  by  the  meta¬ 
phor  of  a  tree,  whose  top  they  say  will  reach 
the  sun,  and  whose  branches  extend  far 
abroad,  not  only  that  they  may  be  seen  at  a 
great  distance,  but  to  afford  them  shelter  and 
repose. 

The  Five  Nations  claim  all  the  country 
south  of  the  River  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Ohio, 
and  down  the  Ohio  to  the  Wabash,  which  lies 
to  the  westward  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania, 


17 


Softn  Hong 


near  to  the  borders  of  Virginia;  westerly,  to 
the  Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie  and  the  River 
Miami,  and  the  eastern  boundaries  of  Lake 
Champlain,  and  the  United  States. 

The  firmness  of  this  league,  the  great  extent 
of  land  it  claims,  the  number  of  great  warriors 
it  produces,  and  the  undaunted  courage  and 
skill  which  distinguish  the  members  of  it  in 
their  contests  both  with  the  savages  and 
European  nations,  all  conspire  to  prove  the 
good  policy  of  an  alliance  with  them;  as  it  is 
an  undoubted  fact  that  in  case  of  a  dispute 
with  the  Americans,  the  posts  would  make 
but  a  feeble  resistance  without  their  exertions; 
and  deprived  of  the  forts,  the  fur  trade  would 
soon  be  lost  to  this  country. 

I  shall  next  consider  the  situation  and  utility 
of  these  barriers  in  a  commercial  point  of 
view,  and  endeavor  to  show  the  propriety  of 
keeping  possession  of  the  posts,  notwithstand¬ 
ing  by  the  treaty  of  peace  with  the  United 
States  they  were  expressly  stipulated  to  be 
given  up;  although  it  is  not  probable  indeed 
that  the  Americans  will  be  able  to  fulfill  the 
treaty  on  their  part,  so  as  to  entitle  them  to 
make  a  reasonable  demand — I  mean  such  a 
claim  as  Government  must  absolutely  admit.13 

13  The  treaty  of  1783  had  provided,  among  other 
things,  that  the  British  would  surrender,  with  all  con¬ 
venient  speed,  the  several  military  posts  held  by  them 
within  the  borders  of  the  newly-established  United 
States.  The  fur  trade  was  the  dominant  commercial 
interest  of  Canada,  however,  and  the  traders  appre- 


Bopageg  and  €ratoe!g 


The  first  post  I  shall  notice  is  Oswegatche, 
on  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  about  150  miles 
above  Montreal,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Black 
River,  where  there  are  about  an  hundred 
savages,  who  occasionally  frequent  it,  and  are 
called  Oswegatche  Indians,  although  they 
belong  to  the  tribes  of  the  Five  Nations.  To 
this  fort  the  inhabitants  of  New  England  may 
with  ease  transport  goods  to  supply  the  Mo¬ 
hawks,  Cahnuagas,  Connecadagas,  St.  Regis, 
and  some  straggling  Messesawger  Indians,  who 
live  near  the  Detroit,  at  a  smaller  expense 
than  they  can  possibly  be  obtained  from  the 
merchants  at  Quebec  or  Montreal,  but  par¬ 
ticularly  rum,  which  is  now  become  an  essential 
requisite  in  every  transaction  with  the  savages; 
for,  though  they  used  formerly  often  to  com¬ 
plain  of  the  introduction  of  strong  water  by 
the  traders  (as  appears  by  the  language  of 
their  chiefs  in  council)  to  the  prejudice  of  their 
young  men,  yet  they  have  not  now  the  resolu¬ 
tion  to  refrain  from  the  use  of  it;  on  the  con¬ 
trary,  it  is  become  so  familiar,  and  even 
necessary  to  them,  that  a  drunken  frolic  is 

hended,  as  Long  here  argues,  that  the  surrender  of  the 
posts  would  enable  the  American  traders  to  wrest  the 
control  of  the  fur  trade  from  Canada.  Pretexts  were 
found  for  retaining  the  posts,  and  out  of  this  and  other 
issues  at  dispute  between  the  two  countries  matters 
were  rapidly  drifting  toward  a  renewal  of  the  war. 
This  catastrophe  was  averted  by  the  Jay  treaty  of 
1794,  and  the  posts  were  surrendered  to  the  United 
States  two  years  later. 


19 


Hong 


looked  upon  as  an  indispensable  requisite  in 
a  barter,  and  anticipated  with  extreme  delight. 

Carleton  Island  is  higher  up  the  river,  and 
has  greater  conveniences  annexed  to  it  than 
Oswegatche,  having  an  excellent  harbor,  with  a 
strong  fortification  well  garrisoned.  It  affords 
excellent  accommodation  for  shipping,  and 
may  be  considered  as  the  naval  storehouse  for 
supplying  Niagara  and  the  other  posts.  There 
are  vessels  of  considerable  bulk  continually 
sailing  from  thence  to  Niagara,  Oswego,  etc. 
There  is  also  a  Commodore  of  the  Lakes, 
whose  residence  is  on  the  island. 

Fort  Oswego  on  Lake  Ontario,  formerly 
called  Lake  Frontenac,  is  a  good  fortification, 
and  capable  of  containing  600  men.  This  post 
is  particularly  important,  as  it  is  the  key  to  the 
United  States,  and  commands  the  opening  to 
the  North,  or  Hudson’s  River,  protecting  the 
trade  with  the  Indians  who  live  on  the  banks 
of  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  whole  extent 
of  the  great  sheet  of  water  near  which  it  stands, 
reckoned  about  eighty  leagues  in  length  and 
in  some  places  from  twenty-five  to  thirty 
broad. 

When  the  English  were  in  possession  of  the 
Colonies,  Albany  commanded  the  trade  with 
the  Indians;  and  it  is  well  known  that  no  place 
in  America  furnished  such  a  quantity  of  furs 
and  skins,  not  even  the  Hudson’s  Bay  settle¬ 
ments,  whose  utmost  extent  of  trade  is  far 
inferior  to  the  produce  collected  here.  These 


20 


t)opagc£  anb  €rabd£ 


furs  and  skins  were  procured  from  Canada 
and  brought  to  Fort  Oswego  by  the  Indians, 
who  disposed  of  them  to  the  agents  sent  there 
by  the  merchants  of  Albany.  Besides,  Indian 
goods  may  be  conveyed  from  Albany  to  Fort 
Oswego  at  a  cheaper  rate  than  from  Montreal 
to  the  new  settlements  at  Cataraqui  and  the 
head  of  the  Bay  of  Kenty,  and  at  less  risk, 
because  the  stream  of  the  Mohawk  River  is 
not  so  strong  as  that  of  the  Cataraqui  River, 
between  the  Lake  and  Montreal,  and  there 
are  not  so  many  falls  of  water. 

Fort  Niagara  is  on  the  same  lake,  where  there 
is  also  a  good  garrison.  This  lake  takes  its 
rise  from  Lake  Erie,  and  after  a  course  of 
fifteen  leagues  empties  itself  into  Lake  Ontario. 
About  four  leagues  before  it  enters  the  lake 
it  is  intercepted  by  the  great  fall  which  is 
mentioned  by  various  authors,  who  do  not 
agree  in  opinion  respecting  its  height;  but  from 
the  most  authentic  accounts  joined  to  my  own 
observations,  I  am  inclined  to  coincide  with 
the  judgment  of  Captain  Pierie,  who  made  an 
actual  survey  and  describes  the  height  to  be 
146  feet,  and  the  width  1040,  which  proves 
that  the  accounts  of  Father  Hennepin  and  La 
Salle  were  erroneous,  who  both  agree  in  calling 
the  perpendicular  height  600  feet.14  The  dis- 

14  According  to  modern  surveys  the  actual  height  of 
the  American  Fall  is  164  feet,  and  of  the  Canadian 
Fall,  150  feet;  while  the  width  of  the  river  at  the  brink 
of  the  falls  is  4750  feet.  A  vivacious  narrative  of 


SPofw  Hong 


tance  from  Fort  Niagara  to  Fort  Stanwix15  is 
about  280  miles,  through  the  Genesee  country, 
which  I  traveled  with  great  ease  in  about  eight 
days.  This  post,  therefore,  is  of  the  most  essen¬ 
tial  importance  to  protect  the  Indians  who  are 
in  alliance  with  Great  Britain,  and  to  secure 
the  valuable  and  undivided  advantage  of  their 
trade. 

The  Detroit  is  so  called  from  being  a  strait 
between  Lake  Erie  and  Lake  Huron,  and  com¬ 
mands  the  trade  from  the  Ohio,  Illinois, 
Mississippi,  and  the  Upper  Lakes,  which  post 
is  resorted  to  by  the  Ottawas,  Hurons,  Miamis, 
Ohio,  Mississippi,  Delaware,  and  Tuscarora 
Indians,  besides  the  Messesawgas. 

These  five  posts  are  situated  at  the  back  of 
the  three  states  of  New  England,  New  York, 
and  Pennsylvania,  and  at  a  very  small  distance 
from  the  Loyalist  settlements. 

The  last  post  is  Michilimackinac,16  which 
is  situated  between  Lake  Huron  and  Lake 

misstatements  made  by  writers  about  Niagara  Falls 
may  be  found  in  Frank  H.  Severance,  Studies  of  the 
Niagara  Frontier  (Buffalo,  1911),  pp.  291-311. 

15  Fort  Stanwix  was  built  in  1758  at  the  head  of  navi¬ 
gation  on  the  Mohawk  River,  where  the  city  of  Rome, 
New  York,  now  stands.  Here  were  negotiated  several 
important  Indian  treaties,  the  last  one  in  1788.  The 
place  was  unsuccessfully  besieged  by  the  British  at  the 
time  of  Burgoyne’s  invasion,  in  the  summer  of  1777. 

16  On  the  post  of  Mackinac  and  its  importance  see 
Alexander  Henry’s  Travels  and  Adventures,  the  annual 
volume  of  the  Lakeside  Classics  series  for  1921. 


22 


Bopage^  anti  €rabelg 


Michigan  upon  an  isthmus17  about  130  leagues 
long  and  22  wide,  and  is  the  last  fortress  to¬ 
wards  the  northwest.  This  point  of  land  is  on 
the  north  of  the  straits  through  which  the 
Lake  of  the  Illinois  or  Michigan,  300  leagues 
in  circumference,  empties  itself  into  Lake 
Huron,  which  is  of  equal  extent.  The  strait 
is  about  three  leagues  long,  and  one  broad, 
and  half  a  league  distant  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Illinois. 

This  is  perhaps  the  most  material  of  all  the 
barriers,  and  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the 
commercial  interest  of  this  country,  as  it  in¬ 
tercepts  all  the  trade  of  the  Indians  of  the 
upper  country  from  Hudson  Bay  to  Lake 
Superior,  and  affords  protection  to  various 
tribes  of  savages,  who  constantly  resort  to  it 
to  receive  presents  from  the  commanding 
officer,  and  from  whence  the  traders  who  go 
to  the  Northwest,  take  their  departure  for  the 
Grand  Portage18  or  grand  carrying  place, 
which  is  nine  miles  in  length,  before  they  enter 
on  the  waters  communicating  with  the  North¬ 
west. 

Were  the  English  to  remain  in  possession  of 
every  part  of  Canada  except  the  posts,  number¬ 
less  doors  would  be  left  open  for  the  Americans 
to  smuggle  in  their  goods,  and  in  process  of 

l7The  “isthmus”  is,  of  course,  the  Upper  Peninsula 
of  Michigan. 

18  On  Grand  Portage,  and  the  trade  route  to  the 
Northwest,  see  Henry’s  T ravels  and  A  dvenhires,  pp.  2  29  ff . 


23 


Hong 


time  the  illicit  trade  would  supersede  the 
necessity  of  the  exportation  of  British  goods 
from  England  to  Canada,  and  the  commercial 
benefits  arising  from  the  consumption  of  our 
manufactures  would  be  entirely  lost.  In  that 
case  Canada  would  be  of  little  service  to 
England  in  a  commercial  point  of  view.  How 
far  it  is  worth  the  expense  of  retaining, 
politically  considered,  is  not  for  me  to  discuss. 


24 


Chapter  4 


SCALPING  AND  INDIAN  WARFARE 

HAVING  endeavored  to  explain  the  na¬ 
ture  and  importance  of  the  Five  and 
Six  Nation  Indians,  and  described  the 
situation  of  the  posts,  and  the  probable  conse¬ 
quences  of  complying  with  the  treaty,  I  shall 
return  to  my  situation  at  Montreal. 

Having  stayed  with  my  employer  seven 
years,  and  not  being  willing  to  enter  into  a  new 
agreement,  I  determined  to  pursue  the  bent  of 
my  inclinations;  and  being  naturally  of  a 
roving  disposition,  which  was  increased  by  my 
frequent  associations  with  the  savages,  I 
entered  a  volunteer  at  the  head  of  a  party  of 
Indians,  thinking  that  my  country  might  at 
some  future  period  derive  advantage  from  my 
more  intimate  knowledge  of  the  country  and 
its  language. 

My  entree  was  in  1775,  when  a  party  of 
about  thirty  of  the  Americans,  commanded  by 
the  famous  Ethan  Allen,  appeared  at  Long 
Point,  about  two  miles  from  Montreal,  intend¬ 
ing  to  plunder  the  town.  They  were,  however, 
disappointed  in  their  expectations  by  the  good 
conduct  of  Captain  Crawford  of  the  Twenty- 
sixth  Regiment,  who  with  about  forty  regulars 
and  some  volunteers  sallied  out  and  made  the 


^ofjn  Song 


enemy  retreat  to  a  barn,  where  an  engagement 
took  place,  in  which  Major  Carden,  Mr. 
Paterson,  a  volunteer,  and  three  privates  were 
killed,  and  I  was  wounded  in  the  foot;  but  on 
the  arrival  of  a  field  piece  the  enemy  sur¬ 
rendered.19 

Being  beloved  by  the  Indians,  and  preferring 
active  service  with  them  to  any  other  mode  of 
life,  I  accompanied  Lieutenant  Peter  Johnson 
and  Lieutenant  Walter  Butler,20  with  a  few 
Mohawks,  to  attack  the  Americans  at  Isle  au 
Noix,  whom  we  defeated,  taking  a  great  many 
prisoners.  During  the  engagement  we  lost  two 
volunteers  and  three  privates.  In  this  action  I 
received  a  wound  in  the  head  from  the  butt 
end  of  a  musket. 

I  then  joined  the  Eighth  Regiment  of  Foot, 
commanded  by  Captain  Foster,  to  attack  the 
Americans  at  the  Cedars,  whom  we  also  de¬ 
feated.  The  prisoners  were  left  at  Fort  St. 
Vielle,  or  Prison  Island,  at  the  foot  of  the  Falls, 
under  a  proper  guard;  and  the  remains  of  our 
small  army,  consisting  of  about  150  men,  went 
down  to  La  Chine  to  engage  another  body  of 
Americans;  but  finding  them  too  strongly  en- 

19  Allen  himself  left  an  interesting  account  of  this 
engagement  in  his  spirited  Narrative  of  Col.  Ethan 
AUeri s  Captivity  .  .  .  (Walpole,  N.  H.,  1807),  pp.  27-41. 

20  Butler  was  a  New  York  Tory  who  in  1778  led  the 
Iroquois  to  the  Cherry  Valley  massacre.  The  action 
here  described  was  one  phase  of  the  operations  of 
General  Richard  Montgomery  against  Canada  in  the 
autumn  of  1775. 


26 


Bopageg?  an&  Crab  da' 


trenched,  we  retreated  to  Point  Clair,  where  we 
stayed  till  we  received  intelligence  that  Gen¬ 
eral  Arnold,21  with  four  thousand  men  were 
at  Isle  au  Noix,  and  that  Major  Gordon  was 
killed  on  his  way  to  St.  John’s,  about  two  miles 
from  the  fort.  On  this  occasion  it  may  not  be 
amiss  to  observe  that  the  custom  adopted  by 
the  Americans,  and  with  so  much  success,  of 
levelling  their  pieces  at  the  officers,  originated 
with  the  Indians,  who  are  possessed  with  an 
idea  that  the  men  will  naturally  be  thrown 
into  confusion  when  their  leaders  are  dead. 
This,  however,  is  not  without  exception:  the 
Mattaugwessawacks,  whose  country  lies  west¬ 
ward  of  Lake  Superior,  hold  the  persons  of 
officers  sacred;  and  Josepsis,  one  of  their  tribe, 
who  was  taken  prisoner  and  sold  to  the  Penob¬ 
scot  Indians,  says  that  the  savages  they  were 
at  war  with  have  adopted  the  same  method. 

I  was  immediately  ordered  on  a  scout,  at 
the  head  of  ten  Connecedaga  or  Rondaxe 
Indians,  with  Captain  La  Motte,22  a  Canadian 
gentleman,  in  search  of  the  person  who  had 

21  Benedict  Arnold,  who  won  fame  for  his  spirited 
conduct  in  this  campaign  and  in  the  operations  against 
Burgoyne  in  1777,  and  everlasting  infamy  through  his 
traitorous  negotiations  for  the  surrender  of  West  Point 
in  1780. 

22  Probably  this  person  was  the  Captain  Guillaume 
Lamothe  whom  George  Rogers  Clark  captured  at 
Vincennes  in  1779  and  sent  with  Governor  Hamilton  to 
a  Virginia  dungeon.  On  this  point  see  Clark’s  Conquest 
of  the  Illinois,  in  the  Lakeside  Classics  series  for  1920. 


27 


Sang 


killed  Major  Gordon,  and  to  reconnoitre  the 
woods  in  hopes  of  gaining  information  of  the 
real  force  of  the  Americans  at  Isle  au  Noix. 
To  avoid  suspicion  we  were  all  dressed  like 
savages,  and  as  Captain  La  Motte  and  myself 
were  well  acquainted  with  the  Iroquois 
language,  it  was  impossible  to  distinguish  us 
from  the  natives.  We  were  out  six  days  and 
nights,  with  very  little  provisions,  living  chiefly 
on  the  scrapings  of  the  inner  bark  of  trees  and 
wild  roots,  particularly  onions,  which  grow  in 
great  abundance,  and  are  not  disagreeable  to 
the  palate.  Hunger  reconciles  us  to  everything 
that  will  support  nature,  and  makes  the  most 
indifferent  food  acceptable.  From  my  own 
woeful  experience  I  can  assert  that  what  at 
any  other  time  would  have  been  unpleasant 
and  even  nauseous,  under  the  pressure  of 
hunger  is  not  only  greedily  eaten,  but  relished 
as  a  luxury.  Those  who  are  acquainted  with 
the  nature  of  roving  in  the  woods  in  time  of 
war,  know  the  necessity  of  traveling  light,  and 
particularly  on  an  Indian  scout,  as  the  savages 
seldom  take  anything  but  a  small  quantity  of 
Indian  corn  and  maple  sugar,  which,  after 
beating  the  corn  between  two  stones,  they 
mix  with  water,  and  on  this  they  subsist. 
During  this  expedition,  as  the  business  was 
urgent  and  the  enemy  near  at  hand,  we  de¬ 
pended  on  adventitious  food. 

On  the  last  day’s  march,  returning  without 
being  able  to  obtain  any  intelligence,  one  of 
28 


t^opageg  anti  Crabds? 


the  Indians  heard  a  noise  resembling  the  break¬ 
ing  of  a  stick;  the  chief  of  the  band  sent  out  a 
scout,  who  soon  returned  with  a  prisoner.  The 
man  appeared  much  frightened,  imagining 
himself  in  the  hands  of  savages  only.  Having 
bound  him  to  a  tree,  I  being  the  only  one  of 
the  party  who  understood  English,  questioned 
him  very  closely  respecting  the  situation  and 
force  of  the  enemy  and  interpreted  the  con¬ 
versation.  When  he  heard  me  talk  his  own 
language  he  was  agreeably  surprised,  and  his 
fears  in  some  degree  giving  way  to  hope,  he 
begged  me  to  save  him  from  the  fury  of  the 
Indians,  whose  general  conduct  in  war  had 
filled  his  mind  with  the  most  dreadful  appre¬ 
hensions.  I  assured  him  that  if  he  would  faith¬ 
fully  satisfy  all  my  inquiries  his  life  should  be 
spared.  He  cheerfully  complied  with  the 
requisition,  and  directed  me  to  a  place  from 
whence  we  might  have  a  clear  view  of  the 
Americans,  who  were  encamped  on  the  op¬ 
posite  shore. 

Having  left  him  bound,  we  proceeded  about 
two  miles  through  swamps,  till  we  came  in 
sight  of  the  enemy.  The  Indians  immediately 
panted  for  action,  but  Captain  La  Motte 
thought  it  prudent  to  restrain  their  ardor,  and 
ordered  them  to  retreat  into  the  woods,  still 
keeping  our  object  in  view.  Soon  after,  a  boat 
full  of  men  crossed  the  river  and  landed  with¬ 
out  perceiving  us.  The  Indians  instantly 
kindled  a  fire  and  each  man  filled  his  blanket 


29 


Stoim  Song 


with  rotten  wood  and  leaves,  till  it  was  ex¬ 
tended  to  the  size  of  a  man;  then  placing  them 
near  the  fire,  to  appear  like  Indians  asleep, 
they  retired  to  a  small  distance,  to  give  the 
Americans  an  opportunity  of  coming  up  un¬ 
molested,  not  doubting  but  they  would  imme¬ 
diately  lire  at  the  blankets.  The  maneuvre 
succeeded  to  our  expectation;  for  the  Amer¬ 
icans,  discovering  the  smoke,  advanced  to¬ 
wards  the  fire,  and  perceiving  the  blankets, 
discharged  their  muskets.  The  savages  imme¬ 
diately  rushed  from  their  ambush,  and  setting 
up  the  war  whoop,  fell  upon  the  enemy, 
scalped  seven  of  them,  and  took  five  prisoners, 
whom  we  painted  like  ourselves.  We  then 
returned,  released  the  prisoner  from  the  tree, 
and  conducted  them  all  to  St.  John’s,  where 
they  were  examined  by  Colonel  England,  who 
ordered  me  to  take  them  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton 
without  delay. 

Having  executed  this  commission  to  .  the 
satisfaction  of  the  commander-in-chief,  I  re¬ 
mained  some  time  with  my  old  friends,  till 
I  received  a  message  from  Sir  Guy  Carleton  to 
attend  him;  when  he  ordered  me  to  join 
Brigadier-general  Nesbit,  with  the  Twenty- 
ninth  and  Forty-seventh  regiments,  in  the 
latter  of  which  I  served  as  a  volunteer  a  con¬ 
siderable  time;  but  finding  no  vacancy,  and 
having  no  allowance  for  my  services,  to  enable 
me  to  live  and  appear  as  I  wished,  I  quitted 
the  regiment  to  enjoy  my  favorite  Indian  life; 


30 


Dopagcs:  ait&  €rabd£ 


and  as  I  knew  their  manner  of  living  and  could 
accommodate  myself  to  their  diet,  I  thought  I 
might  probably  continue  serviceable  to  my 
country  in  scouting  parties,  and  accordingly 
accompanied  a  party  of  savages  to  the  Lake  of 
the  Two  Mountains,  fifteen  leagues  above 
Montreal,  a  village  belonging  to  the  Connec- 
edagas,  carrying  a  scalp  as  a  trophy  of  my 
services. 

Scalping  is  a  mode  of  torture  peculiar  to  the 
Indians.  If  a  blow  is  given  with  the  tomahawk 
previous  to  the  scalp  being  taken  off,  it  is 
followed  by  instant  death;  but  where  scalping 
only  is  inflicted,  it  puts  the  person  to  excruciat¬ 
ing  pain,  though  death  does  not  always  ensue. 
There  are  instances  of  persons  of  both  sexes 
now  living  in  America,  and  no  doubt  in  other 
countries,  who  after  being  scalped,  by  wearing 
a  plate  of  silver  or  tin  on  the  crown  of  the  head, 
to  keep  it  from  cold,  enjoy  a  good  state  of 
health,  and  are  seldom  afflicted  with  pains.23 

When  an  Indian  strikes  a  person  on  the 
temple  with  a  tomahawk,  the  victim  instantly 
drops;  he  then  seizes  his  hair  with  one  hand, 
twisting  it  very  tight  together  to  separate  the 
skin  from  the  head,  and  placing  his  knee  on  the 
breast,  with  the  other  he  draws  the  scalping- 

23  The  truth  of  Long’s  statement  in  this  connection 
is  attested  by  numerous  authentic  instances  in  western 
history.  A  concrete  illustration  is  the  case  of  Isabella 
Cooper,  a  young  girl  who  was  scalped  in  the  Chicago 
massacre  of  August  15,  1812;  she  lived  to  grow  to  wom¬ 
anhood  and  became  the  mother  of  children. 


31 


Hong 


knife  from  the  sheath  and  cuts  the  skin  around 
the  forehead,  pulling  it  off  with  his  teeth.  As 
he  is  very  dexterous,  the  operation  is  generally 
performed  in  two  minutes.  The  scalp  is  then 
extended  on  three  hoops,  dried  in  the  sun,  and 
rubbed  over  with  vermilion.  Some  of  the 
Indians  in  time  of  war,  when  scalps  are  well 
paid  for,  divide  one  into  five  or  six  parts,  and 
carry  them  to  the  nearest  post,  in  hopes  of  re¬ 
ceiving  a  reward  proportionate  to  the  number. 

When  the  scalp  is  taken  from  the  head  of 
one  of  their  own  people,  they  frequently  make 
the  dead  body  of  advantage  to  them  by  dress¬ 
ing  it  up  and  painting  it  with  vermilion.  They 
then  place  it  against  a  tree,  with  weapons  in 
its  hand  to  induce  the  Indians  to  suppose  it 
an  enemy  on  the  watch;  and  round  the  body 
they  set  spears  in  the  ground,  so  as  scarcely 
to  be  discernible.  The  Indians,  on  seeing  the 
person  against  the  tree,  and  anxious  to  make 
him  a  prisoner,  in  the  eagerness  of  running  fall 
on  the  points  of  the  spears,  and  being  disabled 
from  proceeding  are  easily  made  prisoners. 

Before  I  close  this  subject  I  shall  relate  an 
anecdote  of  two  savages  of  different  nations,  in 
the  time  of  Sir  William  Johnson. 

A  Mohawk,  of  the  name  of  Scunnionsa,  or 
the  Elk,  and  a  Chippewa  Indian  of  the  name 
of  Cark  Cark,  or  the  Crow,  having  met  at  a 
council  of  war  near  Crown  Point  in  the  year 
1 757,  were  extolling  their  own  merits  and 
boasting  of  their  superiority  in  taking  scalps. 


3  2 


Bopage£  anti  €rabd£ 


The  Mohawk  contended  that  he  could  take  a 
larger  scalp  than  the  Chippewa  warrior,  who 
was  very  highly  offended  and  desired  that  the 
experiment  might  be  made.  They  parted, 
each  pursuing  a  different  route,  after  having 
first  agreed  to  meet  at  a  certain  place  on  a 
particular  day,  when  a  council  was  to  be  held. 
At  the  time  appointed  they  returned,  and 
appeared  at  the  council.  The  Mohawk  laid 
down  his  scalp,  which  was  the  skin  of  the  head 
and  neck  of  a  man  stuffed  with  fine  moss  and 
sewed  up  with  deer’s  sinews,  and  the  eyes 
fastened  in.  The  chiefs  expressed  their  appro¬ 
bation,  and  pronounced  him  to  be  a  great  and 
brave  warrior.  The  Chippewa  then  rose  and 
looking  earnestly  at  the  Mohawk,  desired  the 
interpreter  to  tell  him  that  it  was  an  old  wo¬ 
man’s  scalp,  which  is  considered  as  a  term  of 
great  reproach,  and  called  to  one  of  his  sons 
to  bring  forward  his  scalp;  when  instantly  he 
exhibited  to  their  view  the  complete  skin  of  a 
man,  stuffed  with  down  feathers,  and  sewed 
very  close  with  deer’s  sinews.  The  chiefs 
loaded  him  with  praise  and  unanimously 
acknowledged  his  superiority.  The  Mohawk 
warrior,  fired  with  resentment,  withdrew  from 
the  council  meditating  revenge;  and  as  soon 
as  he  saw  the  Chippewa  come  forth  he  followed 
him,  and  watching  a  convenient  opportunity, 
dispatched  him  with  his  tomahawk,  rejoicing 
that  he  had,  even  in  this  dastardly  manner, 
got  rid  of  a  victorious  rival. 


33 


Chapter  5 


THE  CONNECEDAGA  OR  RONDAXE  INDIANS 

THE  savages  of  this  nation  are  of  the  Chip¬ 
pewa  tribe,  and  speak  a  mixture  of  the 
Iroquois  and  Chippewa  tongues.  They 
were  driven  from  the  Upper  Country  at  the 
time  of  the  great  Indian  war,  about  the  year 
1720,  and  settled  on  the  Lake  of  the  Two 
Mountains.  There  are  about  200  inhabitants, 
who  are  very  industrious  and  cultivate  the 
land  in  the  manner  of  the  Cahnuagas.  They 
also  breed  cattle,  and  live  in  a  degree  of 
civilization  unknown  to  most  of  the  Chippewa 
tribes.  There  is  also  a  town  near  Lake  Erie, 
in  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  which  is 
inhabited  by  about  1500  of  this  nation,  of 
whom  the  Reverend  Mr.  Charles  Beattie 
gives  a  very  favorable  account.24 

Since  the  settlement  of  the  Connecedagas 
they  have  intermarried  with  the  Cahnuaga, 
St.  Regis,  and  Mohawk  Indians,  which  is  the 
reason  why  their  language  is  less  pure,  though 
some  of  them  speak  the  original  tongue,  which 

24  Charles  Beattie,  Journal  of  a  Two  Months'  Tour 
with  a  View  of  Promoting  Religion  Among  the  Inhab¬ 
itants  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Introducing  Christianity 
Among  the  Indians  to  the  Westward  of  the  Aleghgeny 
Mountains.  .  .  .  (London,  1768). 


34 


Dopagcs  anli  €rabel£ 


in  my  frequent  communications  with  the 
Chippewas  beyond  Michilimackinac  I  found  in 
every  respect  perfectly  understood.  It  was 
among  these  Indians  that  I  first  acquired  the 
rudiments  of  a  language  which  from  long  habit 
is  become  more  familiar  to  me  than  my  own; 
and  I  hope  I  shall  not  be  accused  of  vanity  in 
asserting  that  the  vocabulary  and  familiar 
phrases  subjoined  to  this  work  are  more 
copious  than  will  be  found  in  any  former  pub¬ 
lication.  In  spelling  them  I  have  been  par¬ 
ticularly  careful  in  using  such  letters  and 
accents  as  best  express  the  Indian  words 
according  to  our  pronunciation.  To  lay  down 
general  rules  for  the  orthography  of  a  language 
which  has  never  been  reduced  to  a  system,  I 
do  not  pretend;  my  endeavors  may  perhaps 
assist  those  who  are  better  informed  in  the 
principles  of  universal  grammar. 

The  Connecedagas  are  esteemed  brave 
warriors;  and  my  opinion,  founded  on  long 
experience  of  their  conduct  and  bravery,  coin¬ 
cides  with  that  which  the  English,  from  report 
only,  entertain  of  them.  No  nation  of  savages 
were  ever  more  true  to  the  British  interest, 
not  even  the  Mohawks,  whose  fidelity  is  be¬ 
come  almost  proverbial.  During  the  con¬ 
tinuance  of  the  American  war  they  neglected 
their  families  and  domestic  concerns  to  fight 
for  the  English,  which  the  Cahnuagas  (though 
descendants  of  the  Mohawks  and  Munseys,  or 
Mawhiccon  Indians,  commonly  called  River 


35 


Hong 


Indians)  did  not  with  so  much  cheerfulness. 
Perhaps  the  relationship  of  the  latter  to  the 
Delawares  before  their  defection,  whom  the 
Indians  by  way  of  derision  used  to  call  old 
women,  might  occasion  this  temporary  reluc¬ 
tance;  but  if  that  was  the  cause,  it  was  but  of 
very  short  duration,  for  to  do  them  justice, 
when  they  took  up  the  tomahawk  they  be¬ 
haved  with  great  intrepidity,  and  proved  that 
the  blood  of  the  ancient  Mohawks  still  ran  in 
their  veins.  Some  have,  though  I  think  with¬ 
out  much  candor,  imputed  their  services  to  the 
fear  of  our  government,  and  the  resentment  of 
the  savages  in  our  interest  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  hopes  of  considerable  rewards  on  the 
other;  but  as  such  reflections  may  be  far  from 
the  truth,  it  cannot  answer  any  purpose  to 
comment  severely  on  their  conduct.  It  is 
sufficient  to  know  they  were  our  allies,  and  in 
all  probability  will  continue  friendly  to  the 
British  nation.  Great  praise  is  due  on  this 
account  to  Major  Carlton,  a  brave  and 
experienced  officer,  whom  they  loved  with  a 
Roman  friendship;  they  flew  to  his  standard 
with  alacrity,  obeyed  him  with  cheerfulness, 
and  never  deserted  him:  no  instance  of  friend¬ 
ship  or  attachment,  either  ancient  or  modern, 
could  surpass  it. 

It  requires  good  natural  sense  and  a  thor¬ 
ough  knowledge  of  the  dispositions  of  the 
Indians  to  persuade  them  to  place  unlimited 
confidence  in  their  European  or  American 
36 


Bopagcs  ant*  €rabd£ 


leaders;  to  which  must  always  be  added  a 
seeming  approbation  of  their  advice,  and  an 
endeavor  to  conform  to  their  wishes,  never 
obstinately  pursuing  a  design,  either  offensive 
or  defensive,  contrary  to  their  opinion.  How 
fatal  a  different  line  of  conduct  may  prove, 
the  destruction  of  General  Braddock  is  a 
melancholy  instance.  By  his  haughty  de¬ 
meanor  and  strict  adherence  to  his  own  plan 
in  direct  opposition  to  the  counsel  of  experi¬ 
enced  chiefs,  he  lost  their  friendship  and  died 
unlamented,  confirming  them  in  an  opinion 
they  had  before  often  hinted,  “that  he  wanted 
both  skill  and  prudence  in  war.”  Even  the 
great  Washington  incurred  their  censure  by 
his  conduct,  and  gave  occasion  to  an  Indian 
chief  of  the  name  of  Thanachrishon,  of  the 
Seneca  tribe,  judging  him  by  their  own  rules, 
to  say,  “that  he  was  a  good-natured  man,  but 
had  no  experience.” 

An  impartial  mind  will  require  but  little  to 
be  persuaded  that  the  Indians  are  superior  to 
us  in  the  woods.  It  is  their  natural  element 
(if  I  may  be  allowed  the  expression),  and  a 
tree  or  river,  of  which  their  recollection  never 
fails,  guides  them  to  the  secret  recesses  of  a 
deep  wood,  either  for  safety  or  the  purpose  of 
ambush.  As  they  pay  little  attention  to  the 
rising  or  setting  sun,  it  at  first  surprised  me  by 
what  method  they  traveled  from  place  to 
place  without  any  material  aberration;  but 
this  they  soon  explained  by  assuring  me  that 


37 


^ofjn  Song 


they  had  not  the  least  difficulty  in  going  from 
one  spot  to  another,  being  governed  by  the 
moss  on  the  trees,  which  always  remains  on 
the  north  side,  but  on  the  south  it  wastes  and 
decays.  They  remark,  also,  that  the  branches 
are  larger,  and  the  leaves  more  luxuriant  on 
the  south  than  on  the  north  side  of  the  tree. 
The  most  enlightened  part  of  mankind,  I  am 
persuaded,  cannot  be  more  exact  in  their  mode 
of  judging,  nor  more  attentive  to  the  works 
of  nature. 

To  prove  further,  if  there  are  any  who  doubt 
it,  that  the  Indians  possess  strong  natural 
abilities,  and  are  even  capable  of  receiving  im¬ 
provement  from  the  pursuits  of  learning,  I 
shall  relate  a  story  from  Kalm’s  Travels.™ 

“An  old  American  savage,  being  at  an  inn 
at  New  York,  met  with  a  gentleman  who  gave 
him  some  liquor,  and  being  rather  lively, 
boasted  he  could  read  and  write  English.  The 
gentleman,  willing  to  indulge  him  in  displaying 
his  knowledge,  begged  leave  to  propose  a 
question,  to  which  the  old  man  consented. 
He  was  then  asked  who  was  the  first  [man] 
circumcised?  The  Indian  immediately  re¬ 
plied,  ‘Father  Abraham,’  and  directly  asked 
the  gentleman,  who  was  the  first  Quaker? 
He  said  it  was  very  uncertain,  that  people 
differed  in  their  sentiments  exceedingly.  The 

25  Peter  Kalin  was  a  Swedish  scientist  who  travelled 
extensively  in  America  in  the  years  1748-51.  An 
English  translation  of  his  Travels  appeared  in  1770. 

38 


Bopageg  an&  €rabd£ 


Indian,  perceiving  the  gentleman  unable  to 
resolve  the  question,  put  his  fingers  into  his 
mouth  to  express  his  surprise,  and  looking 
steadfastly,  told  him  that  Mordecai  was  the 
first  Quaker,  for  he  would  not  pull  off  his  hat 
to  Haman.” 

Mr.  Adair  says26  the  Cherokees  are  very 
apt  at  giving  people  nicknames.  A  dull,  stalk- . 
ing  fellow  they  call  a  turkey-buzzard;  an  ill- 
tempered  man,  a  wasp;  a  talkative  person,  a 
grasshopper;  a  hoarse  voice,  they  say  re¬ 
sembles  a  bull;  and  an  interpreter  whose 
manners  and  conversation  are  obscene,  they 
call  a  smock  interpreter. 

The  disposition  of  the  Indians  is  naturally 
proud  and  self-sufficient.  They  think  them¬ 
selves  the  wisest  of  the  sons  of  men,  and  are 
extremely  offended  when  their  advice  is  re¬ 
jected.  The  feats  of  valor  of  their  ancestors, 
continually  repeated  and  impressed  upon  their 
minds,  inspire  them  with  the  most  exalted 
notions  of  their  own  prowess  and  bravery. 
Hence  arises  the  firmest  reliance  on  their  own 
courage  and  power;  and  though  but  a  handful 
of  men,  comparatively  speaking,  they  are  vain 
enough  to  think  they  can  overthrow  both 
French  and  English  whenever  they  please. 
They  say  the  latter  are  fools,  for  they  hold  their 
guns  half  man  high,  and  let  them  snap;  but 
they  themselves  take  sight  and  seldom  fail  of 

2C  James  Adair,  author  of  a  well-known  History  of 
the  American  Indians,  published  at  London  in  1775. 


39 


Hong 


doing  execution,  which,  they  add,  is  the  true 
intention  of  going  to  war. 

These  exalted  notions  of  self-consequence 
are  more  peculiar  to  the  Five  Nations,  and  for 
which  they  are  more  eminently  distinguished 
than  other  tribes  of  savages,  although  none  of 
them  are  deficient  in  this  respect.  Such  senti¬ 
ments  as  these  have  made  the  Iroquois  dreaded 
and  revered  by  others,  for  their  superior  under¬ 
standing  and  valor,  and  likewise  has  a  tend¬ 
ency  to  increase  their  fame.  Although  they 
decrease  in  numbers  daily,  the  thirst  of  glory 
will  never  be  extinguished  among  them  whilst 
there  is  a  breast  to  nourish  it.  They  will 
never  shrink  from  danger  when  honor  is  at 
stake. 

The  Iroquois  laugh  when  you  talk  to  them 
of  obedience  to  kings,  for  they  cannot  reconcile 
the  idea  of  submission  with  the  dignity  of  man. 
Each  individual  is  a  sovereign  in  his  own  mind, 
and  as  he  conceives  he  derives  his  freedom 
from  the  Great  Spirit  alone,  he  cannot  be  in¬ 
duced  to  acknowledge  any  other  power. 

They  are  extremely  jealous  and  easily 
offended,  and  when  they  have  been  once  in¬ 
duced  to  suspect,  it  is  very  difficult  to  remove 
the  impression.  They  carry  their  resentments 
with  them  to  the  grave,  and  bequeath  them 
to  the  rising  generation. 

Those  who  have  associated  with  them, 
though  they  may  admire  their  heroism  in  war, 
their  resolution  in  supporting  the  most  excru- 


40 


l^opagcs  anti  <Erabcfe 


dating  tortures,  and  the  stability  of  their 
friendships,  cannot  but  lament  the  dreadful 
effects  of  their  displeasure,  which  has  no 
bounds.  It  is  this  violence  of  temper,  which  is 
generally  in  the  extreme,  which  makes  them 
so  difficult  to  subdue  and  so  dangerous  to 
encourage;  too  much  indulgence  they  attribute 
to  fear,  and  too  much  severity  brings  on 
resentment. 

To  remove  these  strong  prejudices  (which, 
however  prone  human  nature  may  be  to  en¬ 
courage  them,  would  never  prove  so  prejudicial 
to  society  unless  continually  promoted  by  the 
advice  and  example  of  the  aged),  has  been  the 
constant  endeavor  of  those  nations  who  have 
been  in  alliance  with  them,  and  some  attempts 
have  been  made  to  soften  their  manners  by 
the  introduction  of  the  Christian  religion, 
whose  precepts  are  so  wonderfully  calculated 
to  destroy  every  blood-thirsty  sentiment,  and 
make  mankind  happier  in  themselves,  and 
better  members  of  the  community.  In  this 
laudable  pursuit  our  neighbors,  the  French, 
have  been  the  most  successful,  at  least  so  far 
as  an  alteration  in  external  behavior  may  be 
considered  as  an  indication  of  the  amendment 
of  the  heart.  The  good  conduct  of  the  in¬ 
habitants  of  several  Indian  villages  in  Canada 
bears  testimony  to  this  observation.  Never¬ 
theless,  in  contradiction  to  this  remark,  Mr. 
James  Adair  observes  that  the  French  Cana¬ 
dians  are  highly  censurable  for  debauching 


41 


‘Jofjn  Hong 


our  peaceful  northern  Indians  with  their  “in¬ 
fernal  catechism.” 

Though  I  am  not  an  advocate  for  creeds 
inimical  to  the  peace  of  society,  I  believe  the 
censure  is  too  severe,  for  however  formerly 
they  might  have  been  influenced  by  bigoted 
priests  instilling  into  their  minds  sentiments 
unfavorable  to  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain, 
I  am  clearly  of  opinion  that  they  have  for 
many  years  used  their  best  endeavors  to  incul¬ 
cate  the  principles  of  the  Gospel.  Indeed,  it  is 
always  to  be  lamented  when  either  politics  or 
religion  are  made  subservient  to  each  other; 
this  being  properly  considered,  perhaps  the 
French  are  not  more  blameable  than  other 
nations.  We  are  too  apt  to  involve  others  in 
our  disputes,  and  religion  is  too  frequently  in¬ 
troduced  by  bigots  to  assist  the  cause  they 
wish  to  support. 

With  regard  to  those  Indians  who  have  been 
accustomed  to  the  society  of  English  traders, 
and  even  preachers  (sorry  am  I  to  observe  it), 
their  sentiments,  manners  and  practices  are 
very  different.  The  alteration  is  manifestly 
for  the  worse;  they  have  become  more  de¬ 
generate,  and  added  to  the  turbulence  of  pas¬ 
sions  unsubdued  by  reason  the  vices  of  lying 
and  swearing,  which  unfortunately  they  have 
learned  from  us. 

The  testimony  of  Mr.  Sargeant,  a  gentleman 
of  New  England,  supports  this  assertion;  who 
relates  that  in  a  journey  to  the  Shawnee  In- 


42 


Bopagesi  anti  €ratari£ 


dians  (the  allies  and  dependents  of  the  Six 
Nations),  and  some  other  tribes,  when  he 
offered  to  instruct  them  in  the  Christian  reli¬ 
gion  they  rejected  it  with  disdain;  they  even 
reproached  Christianity,  told  him  the  traders 
would  lie,  cheat,  and  debauch  their  young 
women,  and  even  their  wives,  when  the  hus¬ 
bands  were  from  home.  They  further  added 
that  the  Senecas  had  given  them  their  country, 
but  charged  them  never  to  receive  Christianity 
from  the  English. 

I  shall  subjoin  one  more  proof  to  this. 
Governor  Hunter,  by  order  of  Queen  Anne, 
presented  the  Indians  with  clothes,  and  other 
things  of  which  they  were  extremely  fond;  and 
addressing  them  at  a  council,  which  was  held 
at  Albany,  told  them  that  their  good  mother, 
the  queen,  had  not  only  generously  provided 
them  with  fine  clothes  for  their  body,  but 
likewise  intended  to  adorn  their  souls  by  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and  that  some  min¬ 
isters  should  be  sent  to  instruct  them.  When 
the  Governor  had  finished  his  speech  the  oldest 
chief  rose  up  and  said  that  in  the  name  of  all 
the  Indians  he  thanked  their  good  mother, 
the  queen,  for  the  fine  clothes  she  had  sent 
them;  but  in  regard  to  the  ministers,  they 
already  had  some  of  them,  who  instead  of 
preaching  the  Gospel  to  them,  taught  them  to 
drink  to  excess,  to  cheat  and  quarrel  among 
themselves,  and  entreated  the  government  to 
take  from  them  the  preachers,  and  a  number 


43 


^ofjn  Hong 


of  Europeans  who  came  among  them;  for  be¬ 
fore  their  arrival  the  Indians  were  honest, 
sober,  and  innocent  people;  but  now  most  of 
them  were  rogues;  that  they  formerly  had  the 
fear  of  God,  but  that  now  they  hardly  believed 
his  existence. 

To  extenuate  as  much  as  possible  this 
charge  against  the  English,  let  it  be  observed 
that  the  vice  and  immorality  complained  of  is 
to  be  attributed  in  a  great  measure  to  the 
traders,  who  used  to  purchase  convicts  and 
hire  men  of  infamous  character  to  carry  up 
their  goods  among  the  Indians,  many  of  whom 
ran  away  from  their  masters  to  join  the  sav¬ 
ages.  The  iniquitous  conduct  of  those  people 
essentially  injured  the  English  in  the  opinion 
of  the  Indians,  and  fixed  an  odium  which  will 
not  be  soon  or  easily  removed. 


44 


Chapter  6 


FROM  MONTREAL  TO  MACKINAC 

HAVING  finished  this  long  digression,  I 
shall  continue  my  history  from  the  time 
of  going  to  the  village  of  the  Connece- 
dagas,  where  I  stayed  some  months,  making 
several  excursions  in  scouting  parties  and 
frequently  bringing  in  prisoners,  which  did 
not  escape  the  notice  of  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  who 
at  the  next  interview  approved  my  conduct 
and  wished  me  to  serve  again  in  his  regiment. 
I  told  him  I  was  extremely  happy  I  had  ren¬ 
dered  myself  useful  to  my  country,  and  con¬ 
sidered  myself  highly  honored  by  so  flattering 
a  mark  of  his  approbation;  but  that  the  life 
of  a  volunteer,  though  very  honorable,  would 
not  entitle  me  to  pay,  and  there  was  not  a 
vacancy  in  any  of  the  British  regiments:  he 
then  appointed  me  a  midshipman  on  board  the 
ship  Fell,  commanded  by  Captain  Barnsfer, 
lying  in  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  in  which  serv¬ 
ice  I  continued  till  she  was  ordered  for 
England. 

As  soon  as  I  quitted  the  navy  I  returned  to  the 
Lake  of  the  Two  Mountains,  and  continued 
doing  my  utmost  in  the  line  of  an  interpreter, 
and  at  intervals  perfecting  myself  in  the  Indi¬ 
an  languages,  particularly  in  the  Chippewa 

45 


3fof)n  Song 


tongue,  as  I  purposed  engaging  in  the  service 
of  a  merchant  to  go  to  the  Northwest,  the  first 
convenient  opportunity.  I  also  applied  myself 
sedulously  to  obtain  a  complete  knowledge  of 
their  manners  and  customs,  and  with  that  view 
partook  of  their  amusements,  and  was  soon 
noticed  as  a  good  dancer.  To  this  qualifica¬ 
tion  I  also  added  the  perfect  notes  of  the  dif¬ 
ferent  war  whoops,  as  naturally  as  a  savage; 
and  by  conforming  to  their  ways  and  taking 
pleasure  in  their  diversions  I  was  soon  en¬ 
deared  to  them,  and  left  them  with  regret. 

The  dances  among  the  Indians  are  many 
and  various,  and  to  each  of  them  there  is  a 
particular  whoop. 


i.  The  calumet  dance  7.  The  prisoner’s 


The  war  dance. 
The  chief’s  dance. 
The  set-out  dance. 
The  scalp  dance. 
The  dead  dance. 


dance. 

8.  The  return  dance. 

9.  The  spear  dance. 

10.  The  marriage 

dance. 


11.  The  sacrifice  dance. 


All  these  I  was  perfect  master  of,  frequently 
leading  the  set.  If  accidentally  a  stranger 
came  among  us  (unless  I  chose  to  be  noticed), 
no  one  could  distinguish  me  from  the  Indians. 

Presuming  on  my  appearing  exactly  like  a 
savage,  I  occasionally  went  down  in  a  canoe 
to  Montreal,  and  frequently  passed  the  posts 
as  an  Indian.  Sometimes  I  would  distinguish 
myself  at  a  charivari,  which  is  a  custom  that 

46 


Bopage£  anti  €rabri£ 


prevails  in  different  parts  of  Canada  of  assemb¬ 
ling  with  old  pots,  kettles,  etc.,  and  beating 
them  at  the  doors  of  new-married  people;  but 
generally  either  when  the  man  is  older  than 
the  woman,  or  the  parties  have  been  twice 
married.  In  those  cases  they  beat  a  charivari, 
hallooing  out  very  vociferously,  until  the  man 
is  obliged  to  obtain  their  silence  by  pecuniary 
contribution  or  submit  to  be  abused  with  the 
vilest  language.  Charivari,  in  French,  means 
a  paltry  kind  of  music,  which  I  suppose  is  the 
origin  of  the  custom. 

Not  content  with  being  a  proficient  in  their 
sports,  I  learned  to  make  a  canoe,  bark  a  tree 
for  the  purpose,  and  perform  the  whole  business 
as  regularly  as  the  natives.  I  also  made  moc¬ 
casins,  or  Indian  shoes,  of  deer-skins  dressed 
and  smoked  to  make  the  leather  soft  and 
pliable,  and  worked  with  porcupine  quills  and 
small  beads,  to  which  are  sometimes  suspended 
hawk-bells.  Those  made  by  the  Mohawks  at 
the  Grand  River  near  Niagara  are  preferred 
for  their  superior  workmanship  and  taste, 
and  are  sometimes  sold  so  high  as  four  dollars 
a  pair,  but  in  general  they  may  be  purchased 
without  ornaments  for  one  dollar.  They  are 
more  pleasant  to  wear  than  English  shoes;  in 
summer  they  are  cooler  to  the  feet,  and  in 
winter,  from  being  made  roomy,  they  will 
admit  a  thick  sock,  to  prevent  the  excessive 
cold  from  penetrating.  The  Indians,  in  their 
war  dances,  sew  hawk-bells  and  small  pieces 


47 


S!ofyn  Slotig 


of  tin  on  them  to  make  a  jingling  noise,  and 
at  a  dance  where  I  was  present,  these,  with  the 
addition  of  a  large  horse-bell,  which  I  gave  the 
chief  who  led  the  dance,  made  a  noise  not 
much  unlike  a  Dutch  concert. 

The  savages  are  esteemed  very  active  and 
nimble-footed,  but  admitting  this  general 
opinion  to  prevail,  it  is  well  known  the  Europe¬ 
ans  are  more  swift  in  running  a  small  distance. 
Their  chief  merit,  I  am  of  opinion,  consists  in 
their  being  able  to  continue  a  long  time  in  one 
steady  pace,  which  makes  them  useful  in  going 
express  through  the  woods;  and  as  they  require 
little  sleep  and  can  subsist  on  roots  and  water, 
which  they  take  en  volant,  they  do  not  waste 
much  time  in  refreshment.  They  are  also 
admirable  swimmers,  and  are  not  afraid  of  the 
strongest  currents.  With  these  qualifications 
they  are  certainly  a  very  useful  race  of  men, 
and  as  long  as  the  English  retain  any  posses¬ 
sions  in  Canada,  should  be  considered  as  the 
most  valuable  acquisition;  indeed,  as  indis¬ 
pensably  necessary,  and  every  endeavor  should 
be  exerted  to  retain  them  in  our  interest. 

With  regard  to  bodily  strength,  they  are 
excelled  by  many;  and  even  in  hunting,  the 
Virginians  equal  them  in  every  part  of  the 
chase,  though  all  the  world  allow  them  the 
merit  of  being  good  marksmen.  I  remember 
seeing  some  Americans  shooting  at  a  loon,  a 
bird  nearly  the  size  of  an  English  goose.  This 
bird  is  remarkable  for  diving,  and  generally 
48 


Bopagcs  aitb  Crab  cl's 


rises  some  yards  from  the  place  where  it  dips. 
They  fired  at  the  distance  of  150  yards  with  a 
rifle  several  times  without  success.  An  Indian 
standing  by  laughed  at  them,  and  told  them 
they  were  old  women.  They  desired  him  to  try 
his  skill,  which  he  instantly  did:  taking  his  gun, 
and  resting  it  against  a  tree,  he  fired,  and  shot 
the  loon  through  the  neck.  I  confess  I  never 
saw  a  better  shot  in  my  life,  and  was  highly 
pleased,  as  it  gratified  my  pride,  in  giving  the 
Americans  a  favorable  opinion  of  the  savages, 
for  whom  I  always  entertained  a  predilection. 

The  loon  is  a  very  remarkable  bird,  from  the 
formation  of  its  feet;  but  having  no  anatomical 
knowledge,  I  cannot  describe  it  technically. 
They  are  so  made  that  it  can  scarcely  walk;  it 
is  therefore  seldom  seen  on  land.  In  calm 
weather  it  rises  from  the  water  with  great 
difficulty,  and  flies  as  impelled  by  the  wind, 
on  which  it  seems  to  depend.  The  method 
usually  adopted  by  the  Indians  to  kill  these 
birds  is  by  fixing  a  large  bough  at  the  head  of 
a  canoe,  to  conceal  themselves  till  they  paddle 
near  the  place  where  they  are;  when  at  a  con¬ 
venient  distance,  they  fire,  though  not  always 
with  success.  In  the  Chippewa  language  it  is 
called  a  maunk,  which  agrees  with  the  French 
word  manquer,  to  fail;  it  being,  from  its  shy¬ 
ness,  very  difficult  to  kill.  The  skin,  which  is 
very  tough  and  thick,  is  dried  and  made  use 
of  as  cases  to  cover  their  guns,  to  prevent  the 
wet  from  spoiling  them. 


49 


long 


Having  grown  tired  of  living  entirely  with 
the  savages  I  made  an  excursion  to  Montreal, 
where  I  met  with  an  offer  to  go  as  interpreter 
to  the  North  [west],  which  at  first  I  did  not 
care  to  accept;  but  as  the  salary  was  hand¬ 
some,  upon  mature  deliberation  I  embraced 
the  opportunity  of  entering  into  that  way  of 
life,  from  which  I  fully  expected  profit  at 
least,  if  not  pleasure;  but  alas!  I  had  often 
abundant  reason  to  repent  the  pursuing  the 
bent  of  my  inclinations. 

On  the  fourth  of  May,  1777  I  left  Montreal, 
with  two  large  birch  canoes,  called  by  the 
French,  maitre  canots,  having  ten  Canadians 
in  each,  as  the  number  of  portages  require 
many  hands  to  transport  the  goods  across  the 
landings,  which  can  only  be  done  on  men’s 
shoulders.  As  their  voyage  is  so  essentially 
different  from  the  English  manner  of  travelling, 
I  shall  relate  it  particularly. 

The  canoes  are  made  at  Trois  Rivieres. 
They  are  in  general  eight  fathoms  long,  and 
one  and  a  half  wide,  covered  with  the  bark 
of  the  birch  tree,  and  sewed  very  close  with 
fibrous  roots;  and  of  this  size  they  will 
carry  four  tons’  weight  each.  As  early  in  the 
spring  as  the  ice  will  permit  they  are  brought 
up  to  La  Chine,  a  village  nine  miles  above 
Montreal. 

La  Chine  takes  its  name  from  the  following 
story.  Le  Sieur  La  Salle,  who  was  afterwards 
murdered  by  two  of  his  own  party  in  Canada, 


50 


Bopagfs  attb  Cratoclg 


in  the  year  1686, 27  was  very  intent  on  discover¬ 
ing  a  shorter  road  to  China  than  was  then 
known;  but  his  project  failing  by  an  accident 
which  happened  to  him  at  this  place,  he  was 
obliged  to  postpone  his  journey  to  the  East, 
which  induced  the  Canadians,  by  way  of 
derision,  to  call  it  La  Chine,  or  China;  and  by 
that  name  it  has  ever  since  been  known. 

At  this  place  the  Indian  goods  are  put  on 
board  very  carefully;28  the  dry  merchandise  in 
bales  about  eighty  pounds  weight,  the  rum, 
powder,  and  shot  in  small  kegs.  The  voyage 
from  Trois  Rivieres  to  La  Chine  is  tedious  and 
troublesome,  as  there  is  a  strong  current  to 
combat;  and  without  a  fair  wind,  and  occa¬ 
sionally  a  brisk  gale  to  assist  or  relieve  the 
constant  use  of  the  paddles,  it  would  be  im¬ 
possible  to  make  any  way.  Where  the  water 
is  shallow  the  canoes  must  be  forced  forward 
with  long  setting  poles,  while  the  men  wade 
knee  deep,  and  pull  against  the  current  with 
ropes.  This  is  a  labor  and  fatigue  beyond  what 
will  be  easily  imagined.  Custom  has,  however, 
made  the  Canadians  very  expert,  and  I  must 
do  them  the  justice  to  say  they  encounter 

27 The  assassination  of  La  Salle  occurred  March  19, 
1687,  near  the  Trinity  River  in  the  modern  state  of 
Texas.  Long,  apparently,  here  uses  the  word  Canada 
as  synonymous  with  New  France. 

28  This  general  account  of  the  trade  route  between 
Montreal  and  Mackinac  may  profitably  be  compared 
with  the  more  detailed  narrative  contained  in  Alexan¬ 
der  Henry’s  Travels  and  Adventures. 

Si 


Song 


these  difficulties  with  uncommon  cheerfulness, 
though  they  sometimes  exclaim,  “C’est  la 
misere,  mon  bourgeois.” 

From  La  Chine  to  Michilimackinac  there 
are  thirty-six  portages;  the  distance  by  land 
and  water  is  about  900  miles.  In  favorable 
weather  the  journey  is  frequently  performed 
in  about  a  month.  Great  care  is  necessary  to 
steer  the  canoes  up  the  strong  rapids;  to  labor 
and  care  must  also  be  added  experience  to 
keep  them  upright,  and  prevent  their  striking 
or  rubbing  against  the  stones,  as  they  are  very 
slight  and  easily  damaged.  Whenever  by  ac¬ 
cident  they  receive  an  injury,  as  they  frequent¬ 
ly  do,  the  hole  is  stopped  with  gum,  melted 
with  a  piece  of  charcoal;  the  gum  by  wetting 
immediately  becomes  hard,  and  is  capable  of 
resisting  the  pressure  of  the  water.  When  the 
hole  is  too  large  to  be  stopped  by  gum  only, 
the  inner  bark  of  the  birch  tree,  pounded  and 
tempered  like  mortar,  is  put  on  the  aperture. 
This  is  covered  by  a  linen  rag,  and  the  edges 
firmly  cemented  with  gum. 

We  continued  our  voyage  to  La  Barriere,  at 
the  head  of  the  Long  Saut,  or  long  waterfall, 
a  very  dangerous  current  from  the  extreme 
rapidity  of  the  fall.  At  the  top  of  this  fall 
there  are  some  traders  settled,  but  they  are  not 
of  any  consequence,  either  for  the  extent  of 
their  commerce  or  the  profits  arising  from  the 
peltry  they  collect,  the  savages  in  those  parts 
being  too  well  acquainted  with  the  value  of 


52 


Bopageg  and  €rabcl£ 


furs  and  skins  to  be  imposed  upon,  unless 
when  they  are  intoxicated,  an  advantage,  I 
must  confess,  too  frequently  taken. 

From  this  fall  we  proceeded  to  the  Lake  of 
the  Two  Mountains,  where  there  is  a  village 
belonging  to  the  Connecedaga  Indians,  al¬ 
ready  described.  At  this  place  I  stayed  a  day 
among  my  old  friends,  which  was  all  the  time 
my  engagements  would  allow,  as  it  is  of  the 
most  material  consequence  in  this  branch  of 
trade  to  be  early  at  the  wintering  ground. 

We  proceeded  to  the  Ottawa,  or  Grand 
River,  coasting  all  the  way  till  we  came  to 
Lake  Nipissing,  from  whence  the  River  St. 
Lawrence  takes  its  rise.  We  then  entered  the 
French  River,  leading  to  Lake  Huron,  and 
proceeded  with  very  favorable  weather  to 
Michilimackinac,  where  we  arrived  on  the 
seventeenth  of  June. 

The  country  everywhere  abounds  with  wild 
animals,  particularly  bears,  moose  and  other 
deer,  beaver,  beaver-eaters,  lynx,  foxes,  squir¬ 
rels,  fishers,  otters,  martens,  mink,  wood-cats, 
raccoons,  wolves,  musquashes,  and  so  forth. 
There  are  scarce  any  but  savage  inhabitants 
to  be  found,  who  rove  from  place  to  place  for 
subsistence,  feeding  on  the  animals  they  kill, 
except  the  skunk,  or  pole-cat,  which  they 
never  eat  unless  pressed  by  the  most  extreme 
hunger. 

Monsieur  La  Salle  relates  that  in  his  voyage 
on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  among  the 


S3 


Soffit  Song 


nation  of  the  Oumas,  who  live  on  a  river29  of 
the  same  name,  he  saw  a  most  extraordinary 
animal  between  the  wolf  and  the  lion;  the  head 
and  shape  resembling  the  former,  and  the  tail 
and  claws  like  those  of  the  latter.  He  asserts 
it  would  attack  all  other  animals,  but  was  never 
known  to  hurt  a  man;  that  sometimes  it  would 
carry  its  prey  on  its  back,  and  when  it  had 
eaten  till  satisfied,  it  concealed  the  rest  under 
the  leaves,  or  other  cover;  that  every  animal 
dreaded  it  to  such  a  degree  that  they  would 
not  touch  any  part  of  the  prey  it  had  left; 
and  that  the  Indians  called  it  Michibichi,  which 
is  an  animal  of  the  species  of  the  tiger,  but 
smaller  and  less  speckled,  and  is  now  known  to 
be  the  panther. 

The  beaver  is  a  curious  animal,  but  it  has 
been  described  by  so  many  authors  that  I 
shall  only  observe  what  I  believe  they  have 
not  yet  mentioned.  It  is  seldom  seen  in  the 
day  time.  After  sunset  it  leaves  its  habitation 
and  ventures  abroad,  either  to  work  or  procure 
food.  It  also  takes  this  opportunity  to  wash 
itself.  But  the  most  remarkable  singularity  of 
this  animal  is  that  it  lies  with  its  tail  constantly 
in  the  water,  to  prevent  its  getting  stiff.  The 
flesh  of  it  is  very  good,  either  boiled  or  roasted, 
but  the  tail  is  the  best  part.  While  I  am  upon 
the  subject  of  dainties,  I  may  add  that  the 
snout  of  the  moose  is  also  highly  esteemed. 
Not  any  of  the  animals  in  North  America  are 

29  Evidently  the  Miami  River  and  tribe. 


54 


Bopageg  anti  €rabd£ 


to  be  dreaded,  except  the  grizzled  bear,  which 
generally  keeps  in  as  warm  a  climate  as 
possible:  wherever  it  comes  it  makes  dreadful 
havoc,  destroying  men  and  even,  frequently, 
whole  families.30 

During  the  time  I  stayed  at  Michilimackinac 
a  remarkable  circumstance  of  bravery  and 
generosity  was  communicated  to  me,  which 
may  not  be  unentertaining  to  the  reader. 

An  Indian  boy  about  fifteen  years  of  age  was 
standing  at  some  distance  from  the  fort  when 
a  savage  fired  his  gun  and  accidentally  killed 
an  Englishman.  As  he  was  advancing  he  dis¬ 
covered  the  boy  leaning  against  a  tree,  and 
not  being  of  the  same  nation,  he  formed  the 
resolution  of  taking  him  prisoner.  Having  no 
suspicion  of  the  boy’s  intention,  he  went  up 
to  him  and  took  him  by  the  arm.  The  boy  very 
artfully  drew  back,  and  shot  the  Indian 
through  the  chin.  This  so  incensed  him  that 
he  was  raising  his  hand  to  tomahawk  him, 
when  another  Indian  instantly  coming  up, 
asked  his  companion  who  had  wounded  him? 
He  replied,  the  boy,  adding  that  he  would 
immediately  take  his  scalp.  The  other  pre¬ 
vented  his  bloody  purpose,  and  told  him  he 
would  protect  the  lad,  for  he  was  too  brave  to 

30  The  grizzly  bear,  which  the  expedition  of  Lewis 
and  Clark  made  known  to  the  scientific  world,  was  an 
object  of  dread  alike  to  the  Indian  and  to  the  early 
white  hunters.  Even  so  sturdy  a  character  as  Captain 
Meriwether  Lewis  testifies  that  he  “had  rather  fight 
two  Indians  than  one  bear.” 


55 


Song 


die.  He  carried  him  to  the  fort,  where  he  was 
purchased  by  the  commanding  officer,  to  pre¬ 
vent  the  Indian  whom  he  had  wounded  from 
killing  him. 


Chapter  7 


REMOVAL  TO  LAKE  SUPERIOR  AND  ADOPTION 
BY  THE  CHIPPEWA 

HAVING  taken  in  Indian  corn  and  hard 
grease  (the  food  all  traders  carry  to  the 
Upper  Country)  and  exchanged  my  large 
canoes,  or  maitre  canots,  for  smaller  ones,  the 
latter  being  more  convenient  to  transport 
across  the  carrying  places,  and  better  cal¬ 
culated  to  run  into  small  creeks,31  we  pro¬ 
ceeded  to  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary,  a  strait  so- 
called,  which  is  formed  by  two  branches  that 
separate  from  each  other  at  the  fartherest 
point  of  the  lake.  Here  is  a  small  picketted 
fort,  built  by  the  Indians,  and  about  ten  log 
houses  for  the  residence  of  English  and  French 
traders.  The  nation  of  the  Sauteurs  formerly 
were  settled  at  the  foot  of  the  Falls,  and  the 
Jesuits  had  a  house  near  them.  At  this  place 
there  is  abundance  of  fine  fish,  particularly  pick¬ 
erel,  trout,  and  whitefish  of  an  uncommon  size.32 

31  The  canoes  in  use  between  Montreal  and  Mackinac 
were  larger  than  those  employed  in  the  country  north¬ 
west  of  Lake  Superior.  Alexander  Henry  {op.  cit.,  pp.  1 5- 
16)  gives  a  detailed  description  of  the  former,  and  a 
shorter  one  (pp.  230-31)  of  the  latter. 

32  For  a  more  detailed  description  of  the  village  and 
fishery  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie  a  few  years  before  Long’s 
visit,  see  Alexander  Henry’s  narrative,  pp.  57-61. 


57 


^ofjn  Hong 


From  this  place  we  continued  our  voyage 
to  Lake  Superior,  formerly  called  Lake 
Tracy,  in  honor  of  Mons.  de  Tracy,  who  was 
appointed  viceroy  of  America  by  the  French 
king  in  June,  1665.  It  is  reckoned  600  leagues 
in  circumference  and  on  it  are  a  great  number 
of  large  and  small  islands.  At  the  entrance 
of  this  lake  is  a  high  rock,  somewhat  in  the 
shape  of  a  man,  which  the  Chippewa  Indians 
call  Kitchee  Manitoo,  or  the  Master  of  Life. 
Here  they  all  stop  to  make  their  offerings, 
which  they  do  by  throwing  tobacco  and  other 
things  into  the  water.  By  this  they  intend  to 
make  an  acknowledgment  to  the  rock,  as  the 
representative  of  the  Supreme  Being,  for  the 
blessings  they  enjoy,  cheerfully  sacrificing  to 
him  their  ornaments,  and  those  things  which 
they  hold  most  dear:  an  example  worthy  of 
imitation,  so  far  as  respects  the  good  intention 
of  the  creature  to  the  Creator,  exhibiting  an 
evident  proof  that  man  in  his  natural  state, 
without  any  of  the  refinements  of  civilization, 
is  sensible  of  his  dependence  on  an  invisible 
power,  however  ignorantly  or  unworthily  he 
may  express  his  belief.  God  alone  knoweth 
the  heart,  and  will  judge  every  man  by  the 
knowledge  he  hath. 

Superstition  is  a  noxious  plant,  but  it  hath 
flourished  in  every  climate  from  the  torrid  to 
the  frigid  zone.  If  its  effects  have  proved  so 
pernicious  among  civilized  nations  as  we  know 
they  have,  is  it  to  be  wondered  that  barbarians 
58 


t£opage£  anti  €rabel£ 


have  suffered  by  it?  The  poor,  untutored 
Indian  will  not  incur  a  great  degree  of  censure 
for  obeying  the  dictates  of  his  uninformed 
nature,  and  following  implicitly  the  custom  of 
his  ancestors.  Revealed  religion  has  not  been 
given  to  all,  and  it  is  a  melancholy  reflection 
that  those  who  have  been  enlightened  by  it 
are  not  so  superior  to  the  savages  as  one  should 
naturally  expect  to  find  them. 

In  this  rock  there  are  several  cavities  near 
a  mile  in  length  and  about  twenty  feet  in 
width,  arched  at  the  top.  The  lake  freezes 
only  close  to  the  shore,  the  water  being  con¬ 
stantly  in  a  swell  and  the  waves  frequently 
mountains  high,  which  is  easily  accounted  for 
when  we  consider  its  immense  extent.  On  a 
calm  day,  a  little  distance  from  shore,  sturgeon 
may  be  seen  in  very  deep  water.  The  sur¬ 
rounding  land  is  high  and  rocky,  and  the 
woods  extremely  thick.  The  palm,  birch,  ash, 
spruce,  and  cedar  grow  large  and  in  great 
abundance.  The  North  West  Company,  estab¬ 
lished  at  Montreal,  keep  a  vessel  on  the  lake  to 
transport  their  goods  from  Michilimackinac  to 
the  Grand  Portage  on  the  northwest  side,  and 
return  with  the  peltry  collected  in  the  inlands. 

On  the  fourth  of  July  we  arrived  at  Pays 
Plat,33  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  lake,  where 
we  unpacked  our  goods  and  made  the  bales 
smaller,  having  by  the  Indian  accounts  180 

33  For  a  description  of  the  Pays  Plat  country,  see 
Alexander  Henry’s  Travels  and  Adventures,  pp.  228-29. 


59 


Stofm  Eong 


carrying-places  to  the  part  where  I  intended  to 
winter.  On  our  landing  we  discovered  at  some 
distance  a  number  of  Indians,  which  induced 
us  to  accelerate  the  arrangement  of  the  cargo, 
in  case  of  barter,  and  be  prepared  to  embark 
when  the  business  was  finished.  Everything 
being  properly  secured,  I  made  up  to  the 
savages,  and  calculated  their  number  at  150. 
Most  of  them  were  of  the  Chippewa  tribes; 
the  rest  were  of  the  nation  of  the  Wasses. 
They  gave  me  fish,  dried  meat,  and  skins, 
which  I  returned  with  trifling  presents.  The 
chief,  whose  name  was  Matchee  Quewish,34 
held  a  council,  and  finding  I  understood  their 
language,  proposed  to  adopt  me  as  a  brother 
warrior.  Though  I  had  not  undergone  this 
ceremony,  I  was  not  entirely  ignorant  of  the 
nature  of  it,  having  been  informed  by  other 
traders  of  the  pain  they  endured  in  their 
adoption,  though  they  declared  they  were  fav¬ 
ored  exceedingly.  I  determined,  however,  to 
submit  to  it,  lest  my  refusal  of  the  honor  in¬ 
tended  me  should  be  attributed  to  fear,  and  so 
render  me  unworthy  of  the  esteem  of  those 
from  whom  I  expected  to  derive  great  ad¬ 
vantages,  and  with  whom  I  had  engaged  to 
continue  for  a  considerable  time. 

34  This  was  the  chief  who  planned  the  capture  of  the 
British  fort  at  Mackinac  in  Pontiac’s  War.  Our  only 
first-hand  account  of  this  affair  is  the  one  contained  in 
Alexander  Henry’s  narrative.  For  personal  details 
concerning  Chief  Matchekewis,  see  Henry,  p.  157. 

60 


l^opageg  ant)  €mbd£ 


The  ceremony  of  adoption  is  as  follows:  A 
feast  is  prepared  of  dog’s  flesh,  boiled  in 
bear’s  grease,  with  huckleberries,  of  which  it 
is  expected  every  one  should  heartily  partake. 
When  the  repast  is  over,  the  war  song  is  sung 
in  the  following  words: 

“Master  of  Life,  view  us  well:  we  receive  a 
brother  warrior  who  appears  to  have  sense, 
shows  strength  in  his  arm,  and  does  not  refuse 
his  body  to  the  enemy.” 

After  the  war  song,  if  the  person  does  not 
discover  any  sign  of  fear,  he  is  regarded  with 
reverence  and  esteem;  courage,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  savages,  being  considered  not  only  as 
indispensable,  but  as  the  greatest  recommen¬ 
dation.  He  is  then  seated  on  a  beaver  robe  and 
presented  with  a  pipe  of  war  to  smoke,  which 
is  put  round  to  every  warrior,  and  a  wampum 
belt  is  thrown  over  his  neck. 

The  calumet,  or  Indian  pipe,  which  is  much 
larger  than  that  the  Indians  usually  smoke, 
is  made  of  marble,  stone,  or  clay,  either 
red,  white,  or  black,  according  to  the  cus¬ 
tom  of  the  nation,  but  the  red  is  mostly 
esteemed.  The  length  of  the  handle  is  about 
four  feet  and  a  half,  and  made  of  strong  cane 
or  wood,  decorated  with  feathers  of  various 
colors,  with  a  number  of  twists  of  female  hair 
interwoven  in  different  forms.  The  head  is 
finely  polished;  two  wings  are  fixed  to  it,  which 
makes  it  in  appearance  not  unlike  to  Mercury’s 
wand.  This  calumet  is  the  symbol  of  peace, 
61 


Song 


and  the  savages  hold  it  in  such  estimation 
that  a  violation  of  any  treaty  where  it  has  been 
introduced  would,  in  their  opinion,  be  attended 
with  the  greatest  misfortunes. 

Wampum  is  of  several  colors,  but  the  white 
and  black  are  chiefly  used.  The  former  is 
made  of  the  inside  of  the  conque,  or  clam  shell; 
the  latter  of  the  mussel:  both  are  worked  in 
the  form  of  a  long  bead,  and  perforated  in 
order  to  their  being  strung  on  leather  and 
made  up  in  belts. 

These  belts  are  for  various  purposes.  When 
a  council  is  held  they  are  given  out  with  the 
speeches,  and  always  proportioned  in  their 
size  and  the  number  of  the  rows  of  wampum 
which  they  contain  to  the  idea  the  Indians 
entertain  of  the  importance  of  the  meeting. 
They  frequently  consist  of  both  colors.  Those 
given  to  Sir  William  Johnson,  of  immortal 
memory,35  were  in  several  rows,  black  on  each 
side  and  white  in  the  middle:  the  white,  being 
placed  in  the  center,  was  to  express  peace, 
and  that  the  path  between  them  was  fair  and 
open.  In  the  center  of  the  belt  was  the  figure 
of  a  diamond,  made  of  white  wampum,  which 
the  Indians  call  the  council  fire. 

When  Sir  William  Johnson  held  a  treaty 
with  the  savages  he  took  the  belt  by  one  end, 

36  Sir  William  Johnson  was  the  most  successful  and 
noted  Indian  agent  of  the  British  colonies.  A  short 
sketch  of  his  career  is  given  in  Henry’s  Travels  and 
Adventures,  p.  158,  footnote  68. 

62 


Dopagc£  anti  €rabri£ 


while  the  Indian  chief  held  the  other.  If  the 
chief  had  anything  to  say,  he  moved  his 
finger  along  the  white  streak:  if  Sir  William 
had  anything  to  communicate,  he  touched  the 
diamond  in  the  middle. 

These  belts  are  also  the  records  of  former 
transactions,  and  being  worked  in  particular 
forms,  are  easily  deciphered  by  the  Indians, 
and  referred  to  in  every  treaty  with  the  white 
people.  When  a  string  or  belt  of  wampum  is 
returned,  it  is  a  proof  that  the  proposed  treaty 
is  not  accepted  and  the  negotiation  is  at  an 
end. 

But  to  return  from  this  digression:  When 
the  pipe  has  gone  round,  a  sweating  house  is 
prepared  with  six  long  poles  fixed  in  the  ground 
and  pointed  at  the  top.  It  is  then  covered  with 
skins  and  blankets  to  exclude  the  air,  and  the 
area  of  the  house  will  contain  only  three  per¬ 
sons.  The  person  to  be  adopted  is  then  stripped 
naked,  and  enters  the  hut  with  two  chiefs. 
Two  large  stones  made  red-hot  are  brought  in 
and  thrown  on  the  ground;  water  is  then 
brought  in  a  bark  dish  and  sprinkled  on  the 
stones  with  cedar  branches,  the  steam  arising 
from  which  puts  the  person  into  a  most  profuse 
perspiration,  and  opens  the  pores  to  receive 
the  other  part  of  the  ceremony. 

When  the  perspiration  is  at  the  height,  he 
quits  the  house  and  jumps  into  the  water. 
Immediately  on  coming  out  a  blanket  is  thrown 
over  him  and  he  is  led  to  the  chief’s  hut,  where 
63 


3long 


he  undergoes  the  following  operation:  Being 
extended  on  his  back,  the  chief  draws  the 
figure  he  intends  to  make  with  a  pointed  stick, 
dipped  in  water  in  which  gunpowder  has  been 
dissolved;  after  which,  with  ten  needles  dipped 
in  vermilion,  and  fixed  in  a  small  wooden 
frame,  he  pricks  the  delineated  parts,  and 
where  the  bolder  outlines  occur  he  incises  the 
flesh  with  a  gun-flint.  The  vacant  spaces,  or 
those  not  marked  with  vermilion,  are  rubbed 
in  with  gunpowder,  which  produces  the 
variety  of  red  and  blue;  the  wounds  are  then 
seared  with  punk-wood  to  prevent  them  from 
festering. 

The  operation,  which  is  performed  at  in¬ 
tervals,  lasts  two  or  three  days.  Every  morn¬ 
ing  the  parts  are  washed  with  cold  water  in 
which  is  infused  an  herb  called  Pockqueesegan, 
which  resembles  English  box,  and  is  mixed  by 
the  Indians  with  the  tobacco  they  smoke,  to 
take  off  the  strength.  During  the  process,  the 
war-songs  are  sung,  accompanied  by  a  rattle 
hung  round  with  hawk-bells,  called  chessaquoy, 
which  is  kept  shaking  to  stifle  the  groans  such 
pains  must  naturally  occasion.  Upon  the 
ceremony  being  completed,  they  give  the  party 
a  name;  that  which  they  allotted  to  me,  was 
Amik,  or  Beaver. 

In  return  for  the  presents  given  me  by 
Matchee  Quewish,  which  I  had  only  acknowl¬ 
edged  by  some  trinkets,  and  to  show  how  much 
I  was  pleased  with  the  honor  they  had  con- 
64 


Bopageg  anti  €rabdg 


ferred  on  me,  I  resolved  to  add  to  my  former 
gifts.  I  accordingly  took  the  chiefs  to  a  spot 
where  I  had  directed  my  men  to  place  the  goods 
intended  for  them,  and  gave  them  scalping- 
knives,  tomahawks,  vermilion,  tobacco,  beads, 
etc.,  and  lastly  rum,  the  unurn  necessarium 
without  which  (whatever  else  had  been  be¬ 
stowed  on  them)  I  should  have  incurred  their 
serious  displeasure.  Our  canoes  being  turned 
up,  and  the  goods  properly  secured,  I  told  the 
Canadians  to  keep  a  constant  watch,  night 
and  day,  while  we  were  encamped.  This 
precaution  is  absolutely  necessary  as  the 
Indians  generally  do  mischief  when  they  are 
intoxicated.  On  this  occasion  our  care  was  of 
infinite  service,  for  with  the  rum  we  gave  them 
they  continued  in  a  state  of  inebriety  three 
days  and  nights,  during  which  frolic  they  killed 
four  of  their  own  party;  one  of  whom  was  a 
great  chief,  and  was  burnt  by  his  son.  Having 
been  a  famous  warrior,  he  was  buried  with  the 
usual  honors  peculiar  to  the  savages,  viz.,  a 
scalping-knife,  tomahawk,  beads,  paint,  etc., 
some  pieces  of  wood  to  make  a  fire,  and  a 
bark  cup  to  drink  out  of  in  his  journey  to  the 
other  country. 

On  the  twenty-first  we  embarked,  leaving 
the  band  extremely  well  satisfied  with  our 
conduct,  which  they  acknowledged  in  the  most 
expressive  language;  but  as  it  was  customary 
to  take  conductors  from  one  lake  to  another,  I 
engaged  twenty  of  the  Chippewas  to  accom- 
65 


3^f)n  Hong 


pany  me  in  passing  by  land  the  Grande  Cote 
de  la  Roche,  which  is  the  route  that  all  the 
traders  are  obliged  to  take,  on  account  of  the 
great  cataract,  which  is  reckoned  six  hundred 
feet  in  height,  at  the  entrance  of  the  Nipigon 
River.  This  journey  is  extremely  fatiguing  to 
the  men,  who  are  obliged  to  ascend  a  steep 
hill  with  considerable  burdens,  and  for  this 
reason  it  is  customary  to  rest  two  or  three  days 
to  recruit  their  strength. 

We  left  La  Grande  Cote  de  la  Roche  in  good 
spirits,  and  continued  our  voyage  to  Lake 
Alemipigon,  where  we  met  another  band  of 
savages  of  the  same  nation.  A  council  was 
held,  and  mutual  presents  exchanged.  We 
stayed  here  ten  days,  encamped  by  the  side 
of  the  lake,  during  which  time  a  skirmish 
happened  among  the  Indians,  in  which  three 
men  were  killed  and  two  wounded,  after  a 
dreadful  scene  of  riot  and  confusion,  occa¬ 
sioned  by  the  baneful  effects  of  rum. 

Lake  Alemipigon,  or  Nipigon,  is  about  ioo 
miles  in  length,  and  supplies  the  savages  with 
great  quantities  of  fish.  The  land  affords 
abundance  of  wild  roots,  and  the  animals  are 
very  numerous.  The  Indians  who  hunt  here 
are  in  number  about  300,  and  are  remarkably 
wild  and  superstitious. 

On  the  first  of  August  we  departed  with 
fifteen  Indians,  not  only  to  serve  as  guides, 
but  to  assist  us  across  the  portages.  We  lived 
on  animal  food  and  roots,  reserving  our  corn 
66 


Bopage£  anli  €rabd£ 


and  hard  grease  for  the  winter.  Every  eve¬ 
ning  at  sunset  we  encamped,  and  got  into  our 
canoes  at  break  of  day.  We  continued  our 
march  to  Lac  Eturgeon,  or  Sturgeon  Lake, 
but  did  not  stay  there  a  sufficient  time  to 
enable  me  to  give  a  particular  account  of  it.  I 
have,  however,  described  it  in  the  narrative 
of  my  journey  to  Lake  Manontoye,  where  I 
encamped  for  three  days  on  account  of  the 
badness  of  the  weather. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  September  we  arrived 
at  Lac  la  Mort,  or  Dead  Lake,  situated  to  the 
northeast  of  Lake  Alemipigon.  This  lake  is 
about  sixty  miles  in  circumference,  the  land 
low  and  swampy,  and  the  water  very  un¬ 
pleasant  to  the  palate.  It  has  been  much 
frequented  by  the  Indians,  for  during  the  time 
I  wintered  there  I  discovered  no  less  than 
thirty-five  different  roads,  about  three  feet 
wide,  leading  from  the  woods  to  the  lake  side. 
It  abounds  with  fish,  and  is  frozen  over  in  the 
winter,  the  ice  not  breaking  away  till  April. 
The  Indians  who  resort  to  it  are  good  hunters, 
but  very  wild.  The  Chippewas  are  not  so 
fond  of  dress  as  the  other  savages,  particularly 
those  tribes  who  live  very  remote  from  Mich- 
ilimackinac.  This  is  easily  accounted  for;  as 
the  ice  remains  almost  to  the  last  spring  month 
in  England,  and  the  winter  season  begins 
early  in  the  month  of  October,  the  inter¬ 
mediate  time  is  employed  in  making  and  re¬ 
pairing  canoes,  taking  short  excursions  for 
67 


Stofjn  Song 


food,  amusing  themselves  in  swimming  and 
other  pastimes  peculiar  to  the  savages.  The 
luxury  of  dress  can  be  little  regarded  by  those 
whose  constant  necessities  require  the  utmost 
exertions  for  their  daily  supply,  and  who  are 
not  provident  enough  to  lay  up  a  store  of 
provisions  for  winter.  Indians  in  general  are 
extremely  indolent,  from  the  wildest  to  the 
most  civilized,  and  value  themselves  upon 
being  so,  conceiving  it  beneath  the  dignity  of 
a  warrior  to  labor,  and  that  all  domestic  cares 
and  concerns  are  the  province  of  women  alone. 
This  aversion  for  labor  does  not  arise  from 
dread,  or  dislike  of  fatigue;  on  the  contrary, 
no  people  encounter  or  endure  it  with  more 
cheerfulness,  particularly  in  their  amusements, 
which  are  of  various  kinds,  and  many  of  them 
violent  and  laborious.  They  are  calculated  to 
make  them  athletic,  and  at  the  same  time  by 
the  profuse  perspiration  which  they  occasion, 
they  render  the  joints  supple,  and  enable  them 
to  hunt  with  more  facility. 

Playing  at  ball,  which  is  a  favorite  game,  is 
very  fatiguing.  The  ball  is  about  the  size  of  a 
cricket  ball,  made  of  deer  skin  and  stuffed  with 
hair;  this  is  driven  forwards  and  backwards 
with  short  sticks,  about  two  feet  long,  and 
broad  at  the  end  like  a  bat,  worked  like  a  rack¬ 
et,  but  with  larger  interstices.  By  this  the  ball 
is  impelled,  and  from  the  elasticity  of  the 
racket,  which  is  composed  of  deer’s  sinews,  is 
thrown  to  a  great  distance.  The  game  is 
68 


10opage£  anfc  €rabel£ 


played  by  two  parties,  and  the  contest  lies  in 
intercepting  each  other,  and  striking  the  ball 
into  a  goal,  at  the  distance  of  about  four 
hundred  yards,  at  the  extremity  of  which  are 
placed  two  high  poles,  about  the  width  of  a 
wicket  from  each  other.  The  victory  consists 
in  driving  the  ball  between  the  poles.  The 
Indians  play  with  great  good  humor  and  even 
when  one  of  them  happens,  in  the  heat  of  the 
game,  to  strike  another  with  his  stick,  it  is  not 
resented.  But  these  accidents  are  cautiously 
avoided,  as  the  violence  with  which  they  strike 
has  been  known  to  break  an  arm  or  a  leg. 

Athlergain,  or  miss-none-but-catch-all,  is  also 
a  favorite  amusement  with  them,  in  which  the 
women  frequently  take  a  part.  It  is  played 
with  a  number  of  hard  beans,  black  and  white, 
one  of  which  has  small  spots  and  is  called  the 
king.  They  are  put  into  a  shallow  wooden 
bowl,  and  shaken  alternately  by  each  party, 
who  sit  on  the  ground  opposite  to  one  another; 
whoever  is  dexterous  enough  to  make  the 
spotted  bean  jump  out  of  the  bowl,  receives  of 
the  adverse  party  as  many  beans  as  there  are 
spots.  The  rest  of  the  beans  do  not  count  for 
anything. 

The  boys  are  very  expert  at  trundling  a 
hoop,  particularly  the  Cahnuaga  Indians, 
whom  I  have  frequently  seen  excel  at  this 
amusement.  The  game  is  played  by  any  num¬ 
ber  of  boys  who  may  accidentally  assemble 
together,  some  driving  the  hoop,  while  others 
69 


Hong 


with  bows  and  arrows  shoot  at  it.  At  this 
exercise  they  are  surprisingly  expert,  and  will 
stop  the  progress  of  the  hoop  when  going  with 
great  velocity,  by  driving  the  pointed  arrow 
into  its  edge;  this  they  will  do  at  a  considerable 
distance,  and  on  horseback  as  well  as  on  foot. 
They  will  also  kill  small  birds  at  fifty  yards’ 
distance,  and  strike  a  half-penny  off  a  stick  at 
fifteen  yards.  Spears  and  tomahawks  they 
manage  with  equal  dexterity. 


Chapter  8 


THE  WINTER  AT  LAC  LA  MORT:  ENCOUNTER 


WITH  THE  NATIVES 


iHE  fatigue  my  Canadians  had  under¬ 


gone  rendered  it  necessary  to  prepare 


for  wintering  and  induced  me  to  settle 
at  Lac  la  Mort.  The  weather  was  also  setting 
in  cold,  and  threatened  to  be  very  severe, 
which  was  an  additional  motive.  Having  re¬ 
freshed  ourselves  and  secured  the  canoes,  I 
took  two  Indians  to  show  me  a  spot  proper 
for  building  upon.  We  fixed  close  to  the  lake 
side,  where  we  erected  a  loghouse,  thirty  feet 
long  and  twenty  feet  wide,  divided  into  two 
apartments,  into  which  we  deposited  our 
goods.  The  next  concern  was  to  conceal  our 
canoes  in  the  woods  and  to  hide  the  rum  un¬ 
der  ground,  except  a  small  quantity  for  imme¬ 
diate  use,  knowing  by  experience  the  necessity 
of  keeping  it  from  the  Indians,  as  our  safety 
so  essentially  depended  on  it. 

Having  arranged  every  domestic  concern, 
and  spread  our  table  in  the  wilderness,  we 
prepared  our  winter  firing,  as  wood  is  very 
difficult  to  bring  home  in  severe  weather.  At 
leisure  times  we  hunted,  to  increase  our  stock 
of  provisions,  which  would  not  have  been 
sufficient  to  support  our  household,  and  not 


71 


Song 


choosing  to  risk  the  uncertainty  of  the  arrival 
of  savages,  who  sometimes  bring  animal  food 
to  the  traders. 

As  the  snow  began  to  fall  very  heavy,  we 
were  prevented  from  making  long  excursions 
without  using  snowshoes.  For  the  space  of  a 
fortnight  we  hunted  with  great  success  and 
caught  a  number  of  small  animals,  on  which  we 
feasted  daily;  these  proved  a  seasonable  relief, 
and  saved  the  corn  and  grease.  We  had  been 
settled  about  three  weeks  when  a  large  band 
of  savages  arrived.  Having  only  eight  Ca¬ 
nadians  with  me,  I  desired  them  to  act  with 
the  utmost  precaution  as  our  number  was 
comparatively  small,  and  in  case  of  a  drunken 
frolic  the  property  might  be  pillaged  and  our 
lives  sacrificed.  Fortunately  for  me  I  had  very 
steady  men,  who  were  well  accustomed  to  the 
Northwest  Indians.  We  were  mutually  pleased 
with  each  other,  as  no  trader  had  wintered 
there  before.  The  great  chief,  whose  name 
was  Kesconeek,  made  me  a  present  of  skins, 
dried  meat,  fish,  and  wild  oats,  a  civility  which 
I  returned  without  delay  and  in  a  manner 
with  which  he  seemed  highly  gratified.  The 
rest  of  the  savages  then  came  into  my  house 
one  by  one,  which  is  called  Indian  file,  singing 
war  songs,  and  dancing.  All  of  them  except  the 
chief  placed  themselves  on  the  ground.  He, 
standing  upright  with  great  dignity  in  the 
center  of  the  tribe,  delivered  the  following 
speech:  “  Angaymem  Nocey  wa  haguamissey 


72 


Bopngejj  attfc  €rabrig 


kaygo  arwayyor  kee  zargetoone  oway  barthtyage 
Nishinnorbay  no  gome  cawwickca  kitchee  Artaw- 
way  winnin,  kitchee  morgussey  cargoneek  neen- 
nerwind  zargetoone  artawway  neennerwind  deb- 
woye  Nocey  barthtyage  meekintargan  omar 
appeemeenequy  mackquah  amik  warbeshance 
menoach  kegonce” 

“It  is  true,  Father,  I  and  my  young  men  are 
happy  to  see  you;  as  the  great  Master  of  Life 
has  sent  a  trader  to  take  pity  on  us  savages  we 
shall  use  our  best  endeavors  to  hunt  and  bring 
you  wherewithal  to  satisfy  you  in  furs,  skins, 
and  animal  food.” 

This  speech  was  in  fact  intended  to  induce 
me  to  make  them  further  presents.  I  indulged 
them  in  their  expectations  by  giving  them  two 
kegs  of  rum  of  eight  gallons  each,  lowered  with 
a  small  proportion  of  water,  according  to  the 
usual  custom  adopted  by  all  traders,  five 
carrots  of  tobacco,  fifty  scalping-knives,  gun- 
flints,  powder,  shot,  ball,  and  so  forth.  To 
the  women  I  gave  beads,  trinkets,  and  so 
forth.  And  to  eight  chiefs  who  were  in  the 
band,  each  a  Northwest  gun,  a  calico  shirt,  a 
scalping-knife  of  the  best  sort,  and  an  addi¬ 
tional  quantity  of  ammunition.  These  were 
received  with  a  full  yo-hah,  or  demonstration 
of  joy. 

The  women,  who  are  on  all  occasions  slaves 
to  their  husbands,  were  ordered  to  make  up 
bark  huts,  which  they  completed  in  about  an 
hour,  and  everything  was  got  in  order  for 


73 


Hong 


merriment.  The  rum  being  taken  from  my 
house,  was  carried  to  their  wigwam  and  they 
began  to  drink.  The  frolic  lasted  four  days 
and  nights,  and  notwithstanding  all  our  pre¬ 
caution  (securing  their  guns,  knives,  and 
tomahawks)  two  boys  were  killed  and  six  men 
wounded  by  three  Indian  women.  One  of  the 
chiefs  was  also  murdered,  which  reduced  me 
to  the  necessity  of  giving  several  articles  to 
bury  with  him,  to  complete  the  usual  ceremony 
of  their  interment.  These  frolics  are  very 
prejudicial  to  all  parties,  and  put  the  trader 
to  a  considerable  expense,  which  nevertheless 
he  cannot  with  safety  refuse.  On  the  fifth 
day  they  were  all  sober,  and  expressed  great 
sorrow  for  their  conduct,  lamenting  bitterly 
the  loss  of  their  friends. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  October  they  de¬ 
parted  for  the  hunt,  which  gave  us  great 
satisfaction,  as  we  had  scarcely  rested  dur¬ 
ing  their  abode  with  us.  When  they  got  into 
their  canoes  they  sang  the  dead  war  song: — 
“Wabindam,  Kitchee  Manitoo,  haguarmissey 
hapitch  neatissum,”  or,  “Master  of  Life,  view 
me  well,  you  have  given  me  courage  to  open 
my  veins.” 

Having  piled  the  winter’s  firing  at  a  con¬ 
venient  distance  from  the  house  to  prevent 
accidents,  we  prepared  the  nets  for  fishing. 
The  ice  was  three  feet  thick,  and  the  snow  very 
deep;  this  we  were  obliged  to  clear  away,  be¬ 
fore  we  could  cut  holes  in  which  to  put  our 


74 


1£>opatje£  anti  €rabd£ 


nets.  For  the  space  of  two  months  we  had 
uncommon  success,  having  caught  about 
eighteen  thousand  weight  of  fish,  which  we 
hung  up  by  the  tails  across  sticks  to  freeze, 
and  then  laid  them  up  for  store.  This  was  to 
us  an  important  acquisition,  as  fishing  in  the 
middle  of  winter  is  precarious,  and  the  return 
of  the  Indians  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  trader 
very  uncertain. 

In  summer  the  fishers  go  up  the  lakes,  as 
well  as  rivers,  and  are  generally  most  success¬ 
ful  at  the  foot  of  a  deep  stream,  or  the  mouth 
of  a  creek.  In  the  beginning  of  winter  they  cut 
a  large  opening  and  set  nets.  In  the  depth  of 
winter  they  make  a  small  hole,  in  which  they 
angle;  and  sometimes  they  cut  two  holes  in  a 
right  line  through  the  ice,  and  pass  a  line  at  the 
end  of  a  stick  from  hole  to  hole,  by  which  they 
haul  the  net  under  the  ice,  frequently  with  good 
success.  In  winter  fishing  is  the  daily  employ 
of  half  the  men,  though  in  very  severe  weather 
it  is  a  fatiguing  service. 

In  the  beginning  of  January,  1778,  our  pro¬ 
visions  ran  short,  having  nothing  left  but  some 
spawn  of  fish,  which  we  beat  up  with  warm 
water  and  lived  upon.  The  intense  severity  of 
the  weather  would  not  allow  us  to  look  after 
the  nets;  and  although  thus  distressed  for 
want  of  better  food,  we  were  obliged  to  stay 
at  home,  keeping  a  large  fire,  and  lying  almost 
continually  on  our  blankets,  which  weakened 
us  exceedingly.  Having  remained  in  this  in- 


75 


Hong 


active  state  for  some  time,  and  hunger  pressing 
hard,  I  roused  myself  and  proposed  to  my 
men  to  make  marten  traps,  which  they  went 
about  with  the  utmost  cheerfulness.  When 
they  had  finished  a  sufficient  number,  they  set 
them  in  the  woods,  at  the  distance  of  about 
two  miles  from  the  house.  While  they  were 
employed  in  this  service  I  was  left  alone,  it 
being  necessary  for  someone  to  remain  in 
case  of  the  arrival  of  savages.  The  first  day 
my  men  were  successful,  and  returned  with 
two  raccoons,  three  hares,  and  four  mus¬ 
quashes.  On  these  we  feasted  the  next  day, 
and  though  we  were  not  satisfied,  they  proved 
a  seasonable  relief  and  enabled  us  to  pur¬ 
sue  the  business  we  were  engaged  in  with 
greater  spirits,  fondly  expecting  more  prosper¬ 
ous  days. 

In  a  little  time  we  were  again  destitute  and 
the  men  became  disheartened.  This  induced 
me  to  propose  a  journey  to  Lake  Manontoye, 
where  we  knew  Mr.  Shaw,  a  brother  trader, 
had  wintered,  to  endeavor  to  procure  some 
wild  rice,  which  the  Indians  told  me  grew  in 
the  swamps  at  that  place.  The  Canadians 
approved  of  the  plan,  and  said  they  hoped 
they  should  be  able  to  provide  for  their  sub¬ 
sistence  till  my  return.  Previous  to  my  de¬ 
parture  we  were  compelled  to  kill  a  favorite 
dog,  belonging  to  Joseph  Boneau,  one  of  my 
people,  which  most  sensibly  affected  us,  be¬ 
cause  independent  of  the  attachment  we  had 
76 


Bopageg  anti  €rabd£ 


towards  him,  he  was  a  very  useful  animal. 
The  next  morning  I  put  on  my  snowshoes  and 
persuaded  an  Indian  and  his  wife  who  were 
with  me  occasionally,  and  had  accidentally 
come  in  from  the  hunt  with  six  hares,  to 
accompany  me,  promising  them  payment  in 
rum  at  my  return.  They  agreed  to  go,  and  it 
was  very  fortunate  they  did,  as  I  could  not 
have  found  the  way  without  a  guide. 

We  set  off  with  the  six  hares,  and  traveled 
four  days  without  killing  anything.  This  was 
a  disappointment,  but  with  the  little  stock  we 
carried  with  us  we  subsisted  tolerably  well. 
About  an  hour  before  sunset  on  the  fourth 
day  we  stopped  at  a  small  creek,  which  was 
too  deep  to  be  forded,  and  whilst  the  Indian 
was  assisting  me  in  making  a  raft  to  cross  over, 
rather  than  swim  through  in  such  cold  weather 
against  a  strong  current,  I  looked  round,  and 
missed  his  wife.  I  was  rather  displeased,  as 
the  sun  was  near  setting  and  I  was  anxious  to 
gain  the  opposite  shore,  to  encamp  before 
dark.  I  asked  the  Indian  where  she  was  gone; 
he  smiled,  and  told  me  he  supposed  into  the 
woods  to  set  a  collar  for  a  partridge.  In  about 
an  hour  she  returned  with  a  newborn  infant 
in  her  arms,  and  coming  up  to  me,  said  in 
Chippewa,  “Oway  Saggonash  Payshik  Shoma- 
gonish,”  or,  “Here,  Englishman,  is  a  young 
warrior.”  It  is  said  that  the  Indian  women 
bring  forth  children  with  very  little  pain,  but 
I  believe  it  is  merely  an  opinion.  It  is  true  they 


77 


^o()n  ilottg 


are  strong  and  hardy,  and  will  support  fatigue 
to  the  moment  of  their  delivery;  but  this  does 
not  prove  they  are  exempt  from  the  common 
feelings  of  the  sex  on  such  trying  occasions. 
A  young  woman  of  the  Rat  nation  has  been 
known  to  be  in  labor  a  day  and  a  night  with¬ 
out  a  groan.  The  force  of  example,  acting 
upon  their  pride,  will  not  allow  these  poor 
creatures  to  betray  a  weakness  or  express  the 
pain  they  feel,  probably  lest  the  husband 
should  think  her  unworthy  of  his  future  atten¬ 
tion,  and  despise  both  mother  and  child.  At 
any  rate  he  would  tell  her  the  infant,  if  a  boy, 
would  never  be  a  warrior:  and  if  a  girl,  would 
have  a  dastardly  spirit,  and  of  course  neither 
of  them  be  fit  for  a  savage  life. 

I  believe  it  will  not  be  disputed  that  the 
Indian  women  love  their  children  with  as 
much  affection  as  parents  in  the  most  civilized 
states  can  boast.  Many  proofs  might  be 
adduced  to  support  this  assertion.  A  mother 
suckles  her  child  till  it  attains  the  age  of  four 
or  five  years,  and  sometimes  till  it  is  six  or 
seven.  From  their  infant  state  they  endeavor 
to  promote  an  independent  spirit.  They  are 
never  known  either  to  beat  or  scold  them,  lest 
the  martial  disposition  which  is  to  adorn  their 
future  life  and  character  should  be  weakened; 
on  all  occasions  they  avoid  everything  com¬ 
pulsive,  that  the  freedom  with  which  they 
wish  them  to  think  and  act  may  not  be  con¬ 
trolled.  If  they  die,  they  lament  their  death 

78 


Dopages  anti  Crab  el  s 


with  unfeigned  tears,  and  even  for  months 
after  their  decease  will  weep  at  the  graves  of 
their  departed  children.  The  nation  of  savages 
called  Biscatonges,  or  by  the  French,  Pleureurs, 
are  said  to  weep  more  bitterly  at  the  birth  of 
a  child  than  at  its  decease,  because  they  look 
upon  death  only  as  a  journey  from  whence  he 
will  return,  but  with  regard  to  his  birth,  they 
consider  it  as  an  entrance  into  a  life  of  perils 
and  misfortunes. 

As  soon  as  a  child  is  born,  if  in  summer,  the 
mother  goes  into  the  water  and  immerses  the 
infant.  As  soon  as  this  is  done,  it  is  wrapped 
up  in  a  small  blanket  and  tied  to  a  flat  board, 
covered  with  dry  moss,  in  the  form  of  the 
bottom  of  a  coffin,  with  a  hoop  over  the  top 
where  the  head  lies,  to  preserve  it  from  injury. 
In  winter  it  is  clad  in  skins  as  well  as  blankets. 
In  the  heat  of  summer  gauze  is  thrown  over 
the  young  savage  to  keep  off  the  mosquitoes, 
which  are  very  troublesome  in  the  woods. 
The  board  on  which  the  child  is  placed  is 
slung  to  the  mother’s  forehead  with  a  broad 
worsted  belt,  and  rests  against  her  back. 

When  the  French  took  possession  of  Canada 
the  women  had  neither  linen  nor  swaddling 
clothes.  All  their  child-bed  furniture  consisted 
of  a  kind  of  trough,  filled  with  dry  rotten 
wood  dust,  which  is  as  soft  as  the  finest  down 
and  well  calculated  to  imbibe  the  moisture  of 
the  infant.  On  this  the  child  was  placed, 
covered  with  rich  furs,  and  tied  down  with 


79 


Stotm  Hong 


strong  leather  strings.  The  dust  was  changed 
as  often  as  necessary  till  the  child  was  weaned. 

Among  the  Indians  who  are  in  any  degree 
civilized,  the  women  feed  their  children  with 
pap  made  of  Indian  corn  and  milk,  if  it  can  be 
obtained,  but  in  the  parts  more  northern  and 
remote  from  Europeans,  wild  rice  and  oats  are 
substituted,  which  being  cleansed  from  the 
husk  and  pounded  between  two  stones,  are 
boiled  in  water  with  maple  sugar.  This  food 
is  reckoned  very  nourishing,  and  with  broth 
made  from  the  flesh  of  animals  and  fish,  which 
they  are  frequently  able  to  procure,  cannot 
fail  of  supporting  and  strengthening  the  infant. 
Among  several  of  the  tribes  of  Indians  pap  is 
made  of  sagavite,  from  a  root  they  call  toquo, 
of  the  bramble  kind.  This  is  washed  and  dried, 
afterward  ground  or  pounded  and  made  into 
a  paste,  which  being  baked  is  pleasant  to  the 
taste,  but  of  a  very  astringent  quality.  It  is 
their  common  bread. 

On  our  arrival  at  Lac  Eturgeon,  as  the 
weather  was  bad,  we  encamped  three  days, 
which  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  making  some 
observations  on  this  lake,  which  I  could  not 
do  when  I  passed  it  in  my  way  to  Lac  la  Mort. 

This  lake,  by  the  Indian  accounts,  is  about 
five  days’  journey  by  water;  the  width  in 
some  parts  is  about  thirty  miles.  There  are  a 
number  of  small  islands  in  it  which  abound 
with  hares,  partridges,  and  wild  fowl.  The 
Indians  who  frequent  it  are  Hawoyzask,  or 
80 


Bopages  anti  €rabd£ 


Musquash,  who  speak  the  Chippewa  language. 
They  are  usually  more  stationary  than  the 
generality  of  the  Chippewas ;  they  seldom  leave 
the  inlands,  and  are  excellent  hunters.  Mr. 
Carver,  in  his  chart,  points  out  a  village  leading 
to  Riviere  St.  Croix,  which  he  says  belongs  to 
the  roving  Chippewas;  but  I  believe  all  the 
nation,  with  very  few  exceptions,  may  be 
called  rovers,  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  word. 

The  first  day  of  our  encampment  we  killed 
a  hare,  made  fish-hooks  of  the  thigh  bones, 
and  baited  them  with  the  flesh.  The  lines  were 
made  of  the  bark  of  the  willow  tree,  cut  into 
slips  and  twisted  hard  together.  Success 
crowned  our  endeavors,  for  we  not  only 
caught  sufficient  for  present  use,  but  enough 
for  the  remainder  of  the  journey  to  Lake 
Manontoye. 

The  day  before  our  arrival  we  killed  two 
otters,  which  I  intended  as  a  present  to  Mr. 
Shaw,  not  doubting  but  any  animal  food  would 
be  acceptable  from  the  severity  of  the  season, 
concluding  that  his  situation  was  as  bad  as 
our  own,  except  in  the  article  of  wild  oats. 
When  [we]  arrived  within  six  miles  of  the  lake 
we  met  a  small  party  of  Indians,  who  alarmed 
us  by  an  account  of  a  dreadful  confusion  among 
their  tribe,  occasioned  by  the  Hudson  Bay 
savages  having  killed  three  of  their  band;  and 
they  said  they  believed  Mr.  Shaw  had  fallen 
a  sacrifice  to  their  fury,  as  they  had  heard 
them  consult  together  to  plunder  the  trader. 

81 


^Poljit  3long 


They  lamented  exceedingly  their  inability 
to  assist  him,  not  being  even  strong  enough 
to  resent  their  own  personal  injury.  However, 
they  promised  to  accompany  me  on  the  way, 
as  near  to  Mr.  Shaw’s  house  as  their  safety 
would  admit. 

Having  taken  refreshment,  we  pursued  our 
journey  till  within  two  miles  of  the  house, 
when  they  thought  it  prudent  to  leave  me, 
and  wishing  me  success,  retired  into  the  woods, 
out  of  the  track,  to  avoid  being  seen,  where 
they  promised  to  stay  till  my  return.  My 
Indian  and  his  wife  did  not  choose  to  proceed 
any  farther,  being  also  afraid  of  the  Hudson 
Bay  savages.  I  confess  my  situation  was  very 
unpleasant,  and  I  debated  in  my  mind  what 
steps  to  take  to  attempt  the  relief  of  a  brother 
trader,  and  at  the  same  time  avoid  injury  my¬ 
self.  Relying  on  my  usual  success  in  suppress¬ 
ing  these  kind  of  tumults  occasioned  by  in¬ 
toxication,  and  conscious  that  I  knew  as  well 
as  any  man  the  nature  of  the  Indians  when 
under  its  pernicious  influence,  I  did  not  doubt, 
however  unsuccessful  my  endeavors  might 
prove  as  to  rescuing  Mr.  Shaw  from  his  perilous 
situation,  but  that  I  should  certainly  be  able 
to  effect  an  escape  myself  in  case  of  an  attack; 
and  as  one  favorable  suggestion  frequently 
gives  birth  to  another,  and  establishes  by  de¬ 
grees  a  confidence  in  the  mind,  I  anticipated 
Mr.  Shaw’s  delivery  to  my  entire  satisfaction. 
Fortified  by  these  flattering  hopes,  I  deter- 
82 


IDopngcs  anb  €rabd£ 


mined  to  exert  my  best  and  speediest  endeavors 
in  his  behalf,  and  pursued  my  journey  without 
delay.  When  I  arrived  within  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  of  the  scene  of  discord,  I  heard  the  war- 
whoop  in  a  manner  very  loud  and  clamorous; 
and  though  I  had  been  accustomed  to  such 
sounds,  I  was  very  much  alarmed  and  felt  my 
resolution  rather  staggered,  sensible  that  the 
rage  of  drunken  Indians,  when  it  has  risen  to 
a  certain  pitch,  knows  no  bounds,  and  of  the 
extreme  difficulty  of  reconciling  them  to  any 
person  to  whom  they  had  unfortunately  taken 
a  dislike.  Animated,  however,  with  the  idea 
of  behaving  like  a  warrior,  and  recurring  to  the 
time  when  I  was  adopted  at  Pays  Plat,  I  con¬ 
ceived  it  unmanly  to  shrink  from  danger,  and 
pushing  through  the  woods,  had  soon  a  full 
view  of  the  infernal  spirits,  for  I  could  give 
them  no  better  name. 

I  lay  some  minutes  in  ambush,  listening  with 
great  attention,  till  I  heard  one  of  them  cry 
out  in  the  Chippewa  language,  “  Haguarmissey 
mornoock  gunnisar  Chushecance” ;  or,  “I  do 
not  mean  to  kill  the  Cat”;  which  was  a  name 
given  to  Mr.  Shaw  by  the  Indians,  from  his 
speaking  in  a  feeble  voice.  This  convinced  me 
he  was  alive,  though  in  imminent  danger.  I 
made  all  possible  haste  up  to  the  house,  and 
found  the  savages,  both  men  and  women, 
completely  drunk.  The  huts  had  been  knocked 
down,  the  canoes  [set]  adrift,  and  the  whole 
formed  the  most  dreadful  scene  of  confusion 
83 


^ofm  Eon# 


I  had  ever  beheld.  There  were  also  an  old 
Indian  and  a  woman,  whom  I  afterwards 
learned  was  his  mother,  lying  dead  upon  the 
snow  by  the  lake-side.  I  made  several  efforts 
to  get  into  the  house,  but  was  prevented  by 
the  savages,  who  kept  me  back,  kissing  me 
and  telling  me  they  loved  me,  but  that  I  must 
not  attempt  to  relieve  the  Cat.  At  last,  with 
inconceivable  difficulty,  I  persuaded  them  to 
attend  to  me,  and  felt  the  most  extreme  satis¬ 
faction  in  having  succeeded,  at  least  so  far,  in 
an  attempt  which  would  have  been  dangerous 
to  anyone  to  have  undertaken  who  was  not 
fully  master  of  the  language  and  character  of 
the  savages,  and  at  the  same  time  cool  and 
dispassionate  enough  to  hear  their  nonsense 
with  patience  and  temper. 

I  then  addressed  myself  to  the  most  sober 
of  the  chiefs,  and  inquired  of  him  the  cause  of 
the  dispute.  He  told  me  Mr.  Shaw  was  a  dog 
instead  of  a  cat,  for  that  he  had  refused  them 
rum;  and  that  though  he  and  the  rest  of  the 
tribe  were  happy  to  see  me,  because  they  had 
heard  I  always  had  a  good  heart  towards  the 
savages,  I  should  not  go  in  to  assist  the  trader, 
for  they  were  the  masters  of  the  wigwam,  and 
not  he,  and  that  they  were  resolved  to  have  all 
the  rum  in  his  possession  before  break  of  day. 

Mr.  Shaw’s  house  might  very  properly  be 
styled  a  fort,  being  secured  by  high  pickets, 
which  made  it  difficult  for  the  Indians  to 
approach  it,  and  he  had  taken  the  precaution 
84 


Bopageg  anti  €rabd$ 


to  fasten  the  outer  gate  as  well  as  the  door.  I 
told  the  chief  it  was  not  my  intention  to  inter¬ 
fere,  that  I  had  passed  accidentally  in  my  way 
to  Lac  le  Rouge,  and  should  only  stay  to  re¬ 
fresh  myself.  This  information  pleased  him 
exceedingly,  as  he  knew  Mr.  Shaw  had  only 
one  man  in  the  house,  the  rest,  with  the 
interpreter,  being  out  in  search  of  provisions, 
so  that  at  my  departure  there  would  not  re¬ 
main  force  sufficient  to  obstruct  their  pro¬ 
ceedings.  I  perceived  them  so  fully  bent  on 
accomplishing  their  purpose,  that  had  I  be¬ 
trayed  the  least  intention  or  inclination  to 
relieve  the  unhappy  man  I  should  most 
probably  have  been  dispatched  without  much 
ceremony.  The  effects  of  the  rum  they  had 
already  drunk  had  so  elevated  their  spirits 
that  nothing  less  than  the  full  possession  of  the 
whole  stock  would  satisfy  them;  and  I  am  per¬ 
suaded  that  if  half  of  them  had  perished,  the 
rest  would  without  hesitation  have  risked  their 
lives  in  the  attempt.  To  avoid  all  suspicion, 
which  would  probably  have  been  fatal  both  to 
Mr.  Shaw  and  myself,  I  left  the  chief  and 
watched  an  opportunity  of  returning  undis¬ 
covered.  Fortunately  the  Indians  had  not 
drunk  all  the  rum  Mr.  Shaw  had  given  them, 
and  the  chief,  as  soon  as  I  had  left  him,  went 
back  to  his  hut  to  increase  his  intoxication  and 
communicate  the  conversation  which  [had] 
passed  between  us,  the  rest  of  the  band  having 
retired  soon  after  the  conference  began. 

85 


Hong 


Observing  the  coast  clear,  I  walked  un¬ 
observed  to  the  fort,  and  spoke  loudly  both  in 
French  and  English.  Mr.  Shaw  and  his  man 
heard  me,  and  recollecting  my  voice,  were 
transported  beyond  measure.  The  man,  who 
was  a  Canadian,  was  most  delighted,  as  his 
fears  were  very  strong,  it  being  the  first  year 
he  had  wintered  among  the  savages.  On  my 
approach  I  heard  him  cry  out  with  the  greatest 
vehemence,  “ Mon  Dieu!  que  je  suis  content! 
Notre  ami  est  arrive ,  antrement  nous  serions 
joutu.  Je  conte  assurement,  que  nous  serons 
iientot  libre,  mon  cher  bourgeois He  distantly 
opened  the  gate.  I  entered  precipitately,  and 
congratulated  him  on  the  prospect  of  counter¬ 
acting  the  designs  of  the  Indians,  being  re¬ 
solved  to  exert  my  best  endeavors  and  to  five 
or  die  with  them.  Mr.  Shaw  thanked  me  for 
my  professions  of  friendship,  and  immediately 
gave  me  a  concise  account  of  the  disturbance. 
He  said  the  Hudson  Bay  Indians  had  come  to 
him  with  very  little  peltry,  and  after  trading 
for  it  he  had  given  them  more  rum  than  they 
had  any  right  to  expect;  that  instead  of  being 
content  with  this  they  insisted  on  more;  that 
in  a  fit  of  intoxication  they  had  killed  an 
Indian  and  his  mother;  and  had  attempted  to 
set  fire  to  his  house  with  punk-wood,  which 
they  shot  at  it  lighted,  fixed  to  the  points  of 
arrows.  Having  heard  his  story,  I  encouraged 
him  to  keep  up  his  spirits,  and  advised 
him,  when  the  Indians  returned  to  execute 


Bopageg  anil  Cratoclg 


their  purpose,  to  appear  indifferent  to  their 
menaces. 

Whilst  we  were  in  deep  discourse,  I  dis¬ 
covered  three  chiefs  at  a  small  distance  from 
the  house,  in  very  earnest  conversation,  and 
was  convinced  they  were  devising  some  scheme 
to  effect  their  design.  As  they  approached  I 
called  to  them,  and  desired  them  to  come 
into  the  house.  They  immediately  advanced, 
and  walked  in  one  by  one,  with  looks  of 
treachery  which  the  earnestness  of  the  business 
to  be  executed  would  not  allow  them  to  con¬ 
ceal.  I  talked  to  them  without  the  least  re¬ 
serve,  and  in  apparent  good  temper.  I  asked 
them  if  they  were  sober,  but  before  they  could 
give  me  an  answer  the  rest  of  the  band  came 
to  the  door,  but  did  not  enter;  the  head  chief 
then  told  me  they  were  very  sober  and  ex¬ 
pressed  great  concern  for  their  conduct,  but 
that  now  the  strong  water  had  lost  its  influence 
they  saw  their  folly,  and  were  sure  the  bad 
spirit  had  left  their  hearts. 

I  told  them  the  Master  of  Life  was  angry 
with  them,  and  that  they  did  not  deserve 
success  in  hunting,  for  their  bad  behavior  to 
the  trader,  who  had  been  a  kind  father  to 
them  and  supplied  all  their  wants.  I  then 
presented  them  with  some  tobacco  to  smoke 
in  council,  which  was  well  received,  and  looking 
earnestly  at  the  chief,  addressed  the  band  to 
the  following  effect: 

“  Keennerwind  Ojemar  woke,  kee  wabindan 

87 


Hong 


indenendum  kee  kee  noneydone  Kitchee  Manni- 
too,  ojey  candan  opin  weene  aighter  ojey  petoone 
nowwetting  guyack  debarchemon  kaygait  nin 
oathty  hepadgey  nee  woke  keennerwind  equoy 
kee  janis  goyer  metach  no  gome  gudderbarchemon 
hunjyta  O,  nishshishshin  artawway  winnin 
kaygait  nee  zargetoome  artawway  winnin  metach 
kakaygo  arwayyor  Matchee  Mannitoo,  guy  yack 
neennerwind  oathty  mornooch  kee  appay  omar 
neegee.” 

“You  chiefs,  and  others  of  the  tribe  whose 
eyes  are  open,  I  hope  you  will  give  ear  to  the 
words  of  my  mouth.  The  Master  of  Life  has 
opened  my  brain  and  made  my  breath  blow 
good  words.  My  heart  feels  for  you,  your 
wives,  and  children;  and  what  I  now  speak 
proceeds  from  the  root  of  my  friend’s  senti¬ 
ments,  who  owns  this  house,  and  who  has 
told  me  that  his  heart  was  opened  to  you  on 
your  arrival;  but  notwithstanding  his  kindness 
the  bad  spirit  got  possession  of  you,  which 
made  him  very  unhappy,  though  he  hoped  the 
Master  of  Life  would  change  your  dispositions 
and  make  you  good  Indians,  as  you  used  to  be.” 

To  this  speech  one  of  the  chiefs  made  an¬ 
swer: 

“ Kaygait  Atnik,  kee  aighter  annaboycassey 
omar  hapadgey:  O,  nishshishshin  kee  debar¬ 
chemon  no  gome  neennerwind  ojey  stootewar 
cockinnor  nee  doskeennerwaymug  kee  debwoye 
neecarnis  hapadgey  sannegat  neennerwind  ha 
nishinnorbay  kaygwotch  annaboycassey  ozome 
88 


Bopnges  anti  €tatael£ 


Scuttaywabo  ojey  minniquy  neennerwind  angay- 
mer  Amik,  shashyyea  sugger marsh  cockinnor 
nogome  mornooch  toworch  payshik  muccuk 
Scuttaywabo  ojey  bockettynan  Cushshecance 
warbunk  keejayp  neennerwind  ojey  boossin; — 
haw,  haw,  haw.” 

“It  is  true,  Beaver,  you  have  strong  sense; 
it  sweetens  your  words  to  us,  and  we  all  under¬ 
stand  you.  We  know,  friend,  your  lips  open 
with  truth.  It  is  very  hard  for  us  Indians, 
who  have  not  the  sense  of  the  white  people,  to 
know  when  we  have  enough  of  the  strong  fiery 
water;  but  we  hope  the  Cat  will  throw  off  the 
film  from  his  heart,  as  ours  are  clear.  We  also 
hope  he  will  open  his  heart  once  more  and 
give  us  a  small  keg  of  the  strong  water  to  drink 
to  the  health  of  our  brother  and  sister,  whom 
we  have  sent  to  the  far  country,  and  tomorrow 
at  break  of  day  we  will  depart.” 

Mr.  Shaw,  by  my  advice,  promised  to  com¬ 
ply  with  their  request,  on  condition  of  their 
being  true  to  their  engagements,  and  that 
they  should  forbear  even  tasting  the  rum  while 
they  remained  on  the  ground.  This  deter¬ 
mination  I  acquainted  them  with  and  they 
retired  to  their  huts,  leaving  us  in  quiet 
possession  of  the  fort. 

The  Indians  remained  quiet  all  night,  which 
induced  me  to  hope  that  my  promise  of  rum 
to  them,  on  their  departure,  had  accomplished 
the  desired  effect:  but  I  flattered  myself  too 
much,  as  the  storm  was  not  yet  even  at  the 
89 


Sfof)ti  Hong 


height.  At  break  of  day  they  assembled  and 
asked  for  the  rum,  which  was  immediately 
given  them,  and  they  got  into  their  canoes  and 
went  off  without  burying  their  dead.  This, 
being  very  uncustomary,  alarmed  me,  as  no 
people  are  more  particular  in  paying  the 
greatest  respect  to  the  remains  of  the  deceased. 
Suspecting  the  bad  spirit  was  still  in  them, 
and  that  they  were  only  gone  a  short  distance 
to  drink  the  rum,  we  prepared  for  an  attack, 
loading  twenty-eight  Northwest  guns  and  a 
brace  of  pistols,  and  sat  down  by  the  fire 
expecting  their  return  to  complete  the  design 
my  fortunate  arrival  had  hitherto  prevented. 
In  about  an  hour  they  returned  very  much 
intoxicated,  singing  their  dead  war-songs,  and 
every  warrior  naked,  painted  black  from  head 
to  foot.  As  they  approached  the  house  in 
Indian  file,  each  one  repeated  the  following 
words:  “ Mornooch  toworch  gunnesar  cushshe- 
cance  neennerwind  ojey  dependan  O  wakaygan” ; 
or,  “Nevertheless  we  do  not  mean  to  kill  the 
Cat,  we  only  own  this  fort  and  all  that  is  in  it.” 

Whilst  they  were  singing,  we  were  preparing 
our  guns  and  placing  them  so  as  to  be  ready 
for  immediate  use  if  necessary,  being  deter¬ 
mined  to  make  a  vigorous  resistance,  although 
there  remained  only  Mr.  Shaw  and  myself, 
the  Canadian  having  fled  to  the  woods. 

I  assumed  the  character  of  commander-in- 
chief,  and  desired  Mr.  Shaw  to  obey  my  orders 
implicitly,  and  by  no  means  to  fire  till  I  gave 


90 


lB>opnge£  anti  €rabcl£ 


the  signal,  well  knowing  that  the  death  of  one 
of  the  savages,  even  in  our  own  defense,  would 
so  exasperate  the  rest  that  there  would  not  be 
a  possibility  of  escaping  their  fury.  As  our 
situation  was  truly  critical,  we  acted  with  as 
much  coolness  as  men  devoted  to  destruction 
would.  A  fortunate  thought  came  into  my 
head,  which  I  instantly  put  in  practice.  I 
went  into  the  store,  and  rolling  a  barrel  of 
gunpowder  into  the  outer  room  knocked  out 
the  head.  I  had  scarcely  finished  it  before  the 
savages  arrived,  and  advancing  to  the  door, 
armed  with  spears  and  tomahawks,  said  to 
each  other,  “Keen  etam ,”  or,  “You  go  first.” 
We  stood  ready  to  receive  them,  and  gave 
them  to  understand  we  were  not  afraid  of 
them.  One  of  the  band  entered  the  house  and 
I  said  to  him  sternly,  “Ha  wa  neyoe  shema- 
gonish  equoy  kee  tertennin  marmo?  ”  or,  “  Who 
now  among  you  old  women  is  a  brave  soldier?  ” 
and  immediately  pointing  my  pistol  cocked  to 
the  barrel  of  gunpowder,  cried  out  with  great 
emphasis,  “  Cockinnor  marmo  neepoo  no  gome,” 
or,  “We  will  all  die  this  day.”  On  hearing 
these  words  they  ran  from  the  door,  crying, 
“ Kitchee  Mannitoo  ojey  petoone  Amik  0  mush- 
kowar  haguarmissey  yang”;  or,  “The  Master 
of  Life  has  given  the  Beaver  great  strength  and 
courage.”  The  women  fled  with  the  utmost 
precipitation,  pushed  their  canoes  into  the 
water,  and  got  off  as  fast  as  they  could.  The 
men,  who  before  were  intoxicated,  became 


91 


Eong 


sober,  and  making  as  much  haste  as  possible, 
paddled  to  an  island  opposite  the  house.  Soon 
after  a  canoe  came  on  shore  with  six  women 
to  endeavor  to  make  up  the  breach;  but  I 
refused  all  reconciliation,  telling  them  that 
they  might  have  known  me  before;  that  my 
name  was  Beaver;  that  all  the  Indians  knew 
me  to  be  a  warrior;  and  that  my  heart  was  not 
easily  melted.  The  women  immediately  re¬ 
turned,  carrying  with  them  the  dead,  which 
satisfied  me  they  did  not  intend  to  trouble  us 
again. 

Thus  by  a  happy  presence  of  mind,  we  were 
saved  from  almost  inevitable  destruction,  and 
probably  from  ending  our  lives  under  the 
most  excruciating  torture. 

It  may  not  be  improper  to  observe  the 
necessity  there  is  for  a  trader  to  be  cool,  firm, 
and  in  case  of  emergency  brave,  but  not  rash 
or  hasty.  The  Indians  are  just  observers  of 
the  human  mind,  and  easily  discover  true  from 
affected  courage,  by  that  apparent  tranquillity 
which  clearly  distinguishes  the  former  from 
the  latter.  It  is  well  known  that  no  people  in 
the  world  put  courage  to  so  severe  a  trial,  and 
watch  at  the  execution  of  their  enemies  with 
such  savage  curiosity  the  effect  of  the  tortures 
they  inflict.  Even  the  women  exult  in  pro¬ 
portion  to  the  agony  betrayed  by  the  unhappy 
sufferer,  though  it  frequently  happens,  through 
the  same  spirit  operating  on  both  parties,  that 
the  most  excruciating  torments  cannot  extort 


92 


Bopngcs  anti  €tabd£ 


a  sigh.  An  example  or  two  from  Mr.  Adair’s 
History  of  the  American  Indians  will  show  the 
firmness  of  an  Indian  mind,  and  prove  beyond 
a  doubt  that  such  anecdotes  are  not  exag¬ 
gerated.  Truth  should  be  the  standard  of 
history,  and  guide  the  pen  of  every  author  who 
values  his  reputation. 

Some  years  ago  the  Shawano  Indians,  being 
obliged  to  remove  from  their  habitations,  in 
their  way  took  a  Muskohge  warrior  known  by 
the  name  of  old  Scrany,  prisoner;  they  basti¬ 
nadoed  him  severely,  and  condemned  him  to 
the  fiery  torture.  He  underwent  a  great  deal 
without  showing  any  concern ;  his  countenance 
and  behavior  were  as  if  he  suffered  not  the 
least  pain.  He  told  his  persecutors,  with  a 
bold  voice,  that  he  was  a  warrior;  that  he  had 
gained  most  of  his  martial  reputation  at  the 
expense  of  their  nation,  and  was  desirous  of 
showing  them,  in  the  act  of  dying,  that  he  was 
still  as  much  their  superior  as  when  he  headed 
his  gallant  countrymen  against  them;  that 
although  he  had  fallen  into  their  hands,  and 
forfeited  the  protection  of  the  divine  power  by 
some  impurity  or  other,  when  carrying  the 
holy  ark  of  war  against  his  devoted  enemies, 
yet  he  had  so  much  remaining  virtue  as  would 
enable  him  to  punish  himself  more  exquisitely 
than  all  their  despicable,  ignorant  crowd 
possibly  could;  and  that  he  would  do  so,  if 
they  gave  him  liberty  by  untying  him,  and 
handing  him  one  of  the  red-hot  gun-barrels 


93 


Sfof)n  Hong 


out  of  the  fire.  The  proposal  and  the  mode  of 
his  address  appeared  so  exceedingly  bold  and 
uncommon  that  his  request  was  granted. 
Then,  suddenly  seizing  one  end  of  the  red-hot 
barrel  and  brandishing  it  from  side  to  side,  he 
forced  his  way  through  the  armed  and  sur¬ 
prised  multitude,  leaped  down  a  prodigiously 
steep  and  high  bank  into  a  branch  of  the 
river,  dived  through  it,  ran  over  a  small 
island,  and  passed  the  other  branch,  amidst  a 
shower  of  bullets;  and  though  numbers  of  his 
enemies  were  in  close  pursuit  of  him,  he  got 
into  a  bramble  swamp,  through  which,  though 
naked  and  in  a  mangled  condition,  he  reached 
his  own  country. 

The  Shawano  Indians  also  captured  a 
warrior  of  the  Anantoocah  nation,  and  put 
him  to  the  stake,  according  to  their  usual  cruel 
solemnities.  Having  unconcernedly  suffered 
much  torture,  he  told  them,  with  scorn,  they 
did  not  know  how  to  punish  a  noted  enemy; 
therefore,  he  was  willing  to  teach  them,  and 
would  confirm  the  truth  of  his  assertion  if 
they  allowed  him  the  opportunity.  Accord¬ 
ingly  he  requested  of  them  a  pipe  and  some 
tobacco,  which  was  given  him.  As  soon  as  he 
had  lighted  it,  he  sat  down,  naked  as  he  was, 
on  the  women’s  burning  torches  that  were  in 
his  circle,  and  continued  smoking  his  pipe 
without  the  least  discomposure.  On  this  a 
head  warrior  leaped  up,  and  said  they  saw 
plainly  enough  that  he  was  a  warrior  and  not 


94 


Bopageg  anti  Crabcte 


afraid  of  dying,  nor  should  he  have  died,  only 
that  he  was  both  spoiled  by  the  fire,  and  de¬ 
voted  to  it  by  their  laws;  however,  though  he 
was  a  very  dangerous  enemy  and  his  nation  a 
treacherous  people,  it  should  be  seen  that  they 
paid  a  regard  to  bravery,  even  in  one  who  was 
marked  with  war-streaks  at  the  cost  of  many 
of  the  lives  of  their  beloved  kindred;  and  then, 
by  way  of  favor,  he  with  his  friendly  tomahawk 
instantly  put  an  end  to  all  his  pains.  Though 
the  merciful  but  bloody  instrument  was  ready 
some  minutes  before  it  gave  the  blow,  yet  I 
was  assured  the  spectators  could  not  perceive 
the  sufferer  to  change  either  his  posture  or  his 
steadiness  of  countenance  in  the  least. 

Death  among  the  Indians,  in  many  situa¬ 
tions,  is  rather  courted  than  dreaded,  and 
particularly  at  an  advanced  period  of  life, 
when  they  have  not  strength  or  activity  to 
hunt.  The  father  then  solicits  to  change  his 
climate,  and  the  son  cheerfully  acts  the  part 
of  an  executioner,  putting  a  period  to  his 
parent’s  existence. 

Among  the  northern  Chippewas,  when  the 
father  of  a  family  seems  reluctant  to  comply 
with  the  usual  custom  and  his  life  becomes 
burdensome  to  himself  and  friends,  and  his 
children  are  obliged  to  maintain  him  with  the 
labor  of  their  hands,  they  propose  to  him  the 
alternative,  either  to  be  put  on  shore  on  some 
island,  with  a  small  canoe  and  paddles,  bows 
and  arrows,  and  a  bowl  to  drink  out  of,  and 


95 


^ofjit  Hong 


there  run  the  risk  of  starving,  or  to  suffer 
death  according  to  the  laws  of  the  nation, 
manfully.  As  there  are  few  instances  where 
the  latter  is  not  preferred,  I  shall  relate  the 
ceremony  practiced  on  such  an  occasion. 

A  sweating-house  is  prepared  in  the  same 
form  as  at  the  ceremony  of  adoption,  and 
whilst  the  person  is  under  this  preparatory 
trial,  the  family  are  rejoicing  that  the  Master 
of  Life  has  communicated  to  them  the  knowl¬ 
edge  of  disposing  of  the  aged  and  infirm, 
and  sending  them  to  a  better  country,  where 
they  will  be  renovated  and  hunt  again  with 
all  the  vigor  of  youth.  They  then  smoke 
the  pipe  of  peace,  and  have  their  dog  feast. 
They  also  sing  the  grand  medicine  song,  as 
follows: 

“Wa  haguarmissey  Kitchee  Mannitoo  kaygait 
cockinor  nishinnorbay  ojey  kee  candan  hep  ad  gey 
kee  zargetoone  nishinnorbay  mornooch  kee  tar- 
penan  nocey  keen  aighter,  O,  dependan  nishin¬ 
norbay,  mornooch  towwarch  weene  ojey  mishcoot 
pockcan  tunnockay “The  Master  of  Life 
gives  courage.  It  is  true,  all  Indians  know 
that  he  loves  us,  and  we  now  give  our  father  to 
him,  that  he  may  find  himself  young  in  another 
country  and  be  able  to  hunt.” 

The  songs  and  dances  are  renewed,  and  the 
eldest  son  gives  his  father  the  death  stroke 
with  a  tomahawk.  They  then  take  the  body, 
which  they  paint  in  the  best  manner  and 
bury  it  with  the  war  weapons,  making  a  bark 
96 


Bopage£  anti  €rabd£ 


hut  to  cover  the  grave,  to  prevent  the  wild 
animals  from  disturbing  it. 

Thus  do  the  unenlightened  part  of  mankind 
assume  a  privilege  of  depriving  each  other  of 
life,  when  it  can  no  longer  be  supported  by 
the  labor  of  their  own  hands,  and  think  it  a 
duty  to  put  a  period  to  the  existence  of  those 
to  whom  they  are  indebted  for  their  own,  and 
employ  those  arms  to  give  the  fatal  stroke, 
which  in  more  civilized  countries  would  have 
been  exerted  for  their  support. 

I  remained  with  Mr.  Shaw  until  the  return 
of  his  men,  and  took  an  Indian  sleigh  loaded 
with  wild  rice  and  dried  meat,  and  two  of  his 
Canadians  to  assist  me.  In  my  way  I  called 
at  the  place  where  I  [had]  left  the  Indians, 
who  [had]  communicated  to  me  the  first  ac¬ 
count  of  the  tumult  at  Mr.  Shaw’s,  but  they 
were  gone.  My  Indian  and  his  wife  waited 
for  me,  and  were  rejoiced  to  see  me  again. 
On  my  return  to  Lac  la  Mort  I  found  all  my 
men  in  good  health  and  spirits,  having  been 
well  supplied  with  provisions  by  the  savages 
during  my  absence,  and  had  increased  my 
stock  of  peltry  by  barter.  Mr.  Shaw’s  men 
rested  at  my  house  one  night,  and  the  next 
morning  set  off  for  [Lake]  Manontoye. 


97 


Chapter  9 


FURTHER  PROCEEDINGS  AT  LAC  LA  MORT 

LAKE  MANONTOYE,  where  Mr.  Shaw 
wintered,  is  not  as  large  as  Lac  Etur- 
geon.  It  abounds  with  excellent  fish 
and  wild  fowl,  and  oats,  rice,  and  cranberries 
grow  spontaneously  in  the  swamps.  There  are 
very  few  islands  in  it.  There  are  about  300  of 
the  Chippewa  nation  who  resort  to  it.  They 
are  very  wild  and  delight  in  war,  which  they 
sometimes  wage  against  the  Sioux  on  the 
Mississippi;  and  they  are  frequently  absent 
from  their  families  fifteen  months,  scarce  ever 
returning  without  a  prisoner  or  a  scalp. 

It  is  very  strange  that  the  thirst  of  blood 
should  stimulate  the  human  mind  to  traverse 
such  an  amazing  extent  of  country,  suffering 
inexpressible  hardships  and  uncertain  of  suc¬ 
cess,  to  gratify  a  passion  which  none  but  an 
infernal  spirit  could  suggest;  and  when  suc¬ 
cess  has  crowned  his  labors,  that  he  should 
return  with  inconceivable  satisfaction  and  re¬ 
late  the  transactions  of  his  journey  with  the 
greatest  exultation,  smiling  at  the  relation 
of  agonies  which  he  alone  [has]  occasioned. 
The  most  dreadful  acts  of  a  maniac  cannot 
exceed  such  cruelty:  happy  those  who  enjoy 
the  benefits  of  society,  whose  civilization  and 
98 


Bopageg  aniJ  €rabd£ 


whose  laws  protect  them  from  such  detestable 
outrages ! 

Previous  to  their  going  to  war  the  head  chief 
calls  a  council,  and  each  chief  has  a  belt  of 
wampum  and  a  war  pipe:  the  belt  to  remind 
them  of  former  transactions  relative  to  the 
nation  they  intend  to  commence  hostilities 
against,  and  the  pipe  to  smoke  at  the  council 
fire.  When  they  have  determined  to  make  war, 
they  send  the  belts  and  pipes  to  their  enemies, 
and  if  a  similar  compliment  is  returned  they 
instantly  prepare  for  blood,  with  the  most 
steady  and  determined  resolution. 

The  novel  of  Emily  Montague 36  affords  a 
striking  example  of  this  strong  propensity  for 
blood,  which  I  shall  relate  in  the  author’s 
own  words: 

“A  Jesuit  missionary  told  me  a  story  on 
this  subject,  which  one  cannot  hear  without 
horror.  An  Indian  woman  with  whom  he 
lived  on  his  mission,  was  feeding  her  children, 
when  her  husband  brought  in  an  English 
prisoner.  She  immediately  cut  off  his  arm, 

36  The  author  of  this  novel  was  Mrs.  Frances  M. 
Brooke,  an  industrious  eighteenth-century  writer  of 
fiction  and  drama.  Soon  after  her  marriage  she  came 
to  Canada  with  her  husband,  who  was  appointed  chap¬ 
lain  to  the  garrison  at  Quebec.  In  1763  Mrs.  Brooke 
published  anonymously  The  History  of  Lady  Julia 
Mandeville,  a  novel  of  Canadian  life  which  proved  a 
great  success  and  ran  through  several  editions.  In 
1769  she  returned  to  this  field  with  the  four- volume 
novel,  Emily  Montague,  to  which  Long  makes  allusion. 


99 


3long 


and  gave  her  children  the  streaming  blood  to 
drink.  The  Jesuit  remonstrated  on  the  cruelty 
of  the  action;  on  which,  looking  sternly  at 
him — ‘I  would  have  them  warriors,’  said  she, 
‘and  therefore  feed  them  with  the  food  of 
men.’” 

When  I  was  at  Cataraqui,  the  capital  of  the 
Loyalist  settlements  in  Canada,  a  party  of 
Mohawks  and  Messesawgers  accidentally  met, 
and  having  bartered  their  skins  and  peltry 
with  the  traders,  sat  themselves  down  to 
drink  the  rum  their  merchandise  had  pro¬ 
duced.  As  the  liquor  began  to  operate,  their 
imaginations  suggested  to  them  that  they  were 
of  different  nations  and  as  the  Mohawks  al¬ 
ways  claimed  a  superiority,  intoxication  made 
them  proud.  At  last  a  dispute  arose,  and  a 
Messesawger  Indian  was  killed  and  his  heart 
taken  out,  which  the  Mohawks  intended  to 
have  broiled,  but  they  were  prevented  by  a 
gentleman  who  accidentally  passed  by  their 
hut,  and  prevailed  upon  them  to  give  it  up. 

It  seems  to  be  the  constant  attention,  both 
of  the  male  and  female  part  of  the  Indians,  to 
instill  ideas  of  heroism  into  the  minds  of  the 
rising  generation,  and  these  impressions  they 
carry  far  beyond  the  line  of  reason  or  of  justice. 
Is  it  then  surprising  that  every  action  of  their 
lives  should  tend  to  satisfy  their  thirst  for 
revenging  offenses  committed  against  them, 
and  that  these  sentiments  should  operate  so 
powerfully  in  directing  their  future  conduct? 


IOO 


Bopagc£  anti  STratocIs 


There  is,  nevertheless,  one  exception  to  these 
observations — their  conduct  to  traders  who 
are  obliged  on  some  occasions,  when  intoxica¬ 
tion  runs  high,  to  beat  them  very  soundly. 
To  their  credit,  in  these  instances,  I  must 
confess  I  never  knew  them  to  resent  this 
severity  when  sober.  The  only  remark  they 
have  made  has  been,  “Friend,  you  beat  me 
very  severely  last  night,  but  I  do  not  mind,  I 
suppose  I  deserved  it.  It  was  the  liquor  made 
me  offend.”  Or  if  they  betray  any  dissatis¬ 
faction,  one  glass  of  rum  will  reconcile  all 
differences.  With  regard  to  severity  when  they 
are  perfectly  sober,  I  am  convinced  it  would  be 
highly  dangerous,  and  should  be  cautiously 
avoided. 

But  although  they  often  express  these  blood¬ 
thirsty  sentiments,  and  too  frequently  put 
them  in  [to]  execution,  yet  there  are  occasions 
when  they  exercise  both  temper  and  reason. 

When  I  was  at  Pimitiscotyan  Landing  on 
Lake  Ontario,  I  had  a  large  dog  to  protect 
myself  and  property.  An  Indian  came  in 
rather  in  liquor  to  ask  for  rum,  and  probably 
might  strike  the  animal.  The  dog  instantly 
seized  him  by  the  calf  of  the  leg,  and  wounded 
him  dreadfully.  He  returned  to  his  hut  and 
made  no  complaint  till  the  next  morning,  when 
he  desired  to  speak  with  me.  I  went  to  him, 
and  he  told  me  how  the  dog  had  used  him, 
saying  he  hoped  I  would  give  him  a  pair  of 
leggings,  to  supply  those  which  the  dog  had 


IOI 


^ofjn  3long 


torn;  but  that  with  regard  to  his  leg,  he  did 
not  trouble  himself  much  about  that,  as  he 
knew  it  would  soon  be  well.  I  immediately 
granted  his  request,  and  added  a  bottle  of 
rum,  with  which  he  seemed  well  pleased,  and 
I  heard  no  more  of  it. 

But  to  return  to  the  subject  of  going  to  war. 
The  women  and  children  sometimes  go  for¬ 
ward  in  their  canoes,  singing  the  war-songs, 
and  encamp  every  evening  at  sunset,  having 
a  great  dislike  to  traveling  in  the  dark.  Forty- 
eight  young  warriors  are  placed,  in  four  divi¬ 
sions,  to  keep  guard  at  night  armed  with  guns, 
bows,  and  arrows,  and  some  scotte  wigwas,  or 
fire  bark,  to  light  in  case  of  sudden  surprise. 

This  bark  is  taken  from  the  birch  tree,  and 
being  properly  dried  is  used  by  the  Indians  to 
light  them  to  spear  fish.  It  is  fixed  on  a  stick 
about  seven  feet  long,  and  either  put  at  the 
head  of  the  canoe  or  carried  by  the  person 
who  attends  upon  the  man  that  spears,  and 
whose  business  it  is  also  to  steer  the  canoe. 

At  daybreak  the  Indians  depart  and  pursue 
their  journey  regardless  of  the  weather  till 
they  arrive  in  the  enemy’s  country,  when  the 
utmost  precaution  is  adopted  that  it  is  possible 
for  human  invention  to  suggest. 

When  war  is  made  against  the  Mississippi 
Indians,  they  endeavor  to  kill  the  men  and 
women  and  bring  away  the  children  to  dispose 
of  to  the  traders,  who  send  them  down  to 
Montreal  for  servants.  The  boys  are  not  so 


102 


Bopngcs  anti  Crated 


much  to  be  depended  upon  as  the  girls,  being 
more  stubborn,  and  naturally  disdaining  the 
idea  of  slavery.  They  are  also  full  of  pride 
and  resentment,  and  will  not  hesitate  to  kill 
their  masters  in  order  to  gratify  their  revenge 
for  a  supposed  injury.  The  girls  are  more 
docile,  and  assimilate  much  sooner  with  the 
manners  of  civilization.  Being  unaccustomed 
to  domestic  life,  they  are  at  first  sick  and  un¬ 
healthy;  but  the  change  soon  becomes  familiar 
to  them,  and  they  then  prefer  it  to  the  un¬ 
cultivated  manner  of  living  in  which  they  were 
brought  up. 

A  few  days  after  my  return  to  Lac  la  Mort, 
a  band  of  savages  arrived  from  the  Red  Lake, 
called  by  the  Indians,  Misqui  Sakiegan,  and 
some  from  Lake  Shabeechevan,  or  the  Weed 
Lake,  about  five  days’  march  beyond  Lake 
Manontoye.  Red  Lake  is  so  called  on  account 
of  a  remarkable  circumstance  which  happened 
to  two  famous  warriors  of  the  Chippewa  nation 
who  were  hunting  by  the  lake-side,  and  as  they 
were  looking  out  for  game,  perceived  at  some 
distance  an  enormous  beast  that  appeared 
much  larger  than  any  animal  they  had  ever 
seen;  his  pace  was  slow  and  heavy,  and  he 
kept  constantly  by  the  water  side.  They 
followed  him  as  close  as  they  thought  prudent, 
determined  at  all  hazards  to  use  their  best 
endeavors  to  kill  him.  As  they  approached 
they  had  a  clearer  view,  and  discovered  that 
his  body  was  covered  with  something  like 


103 


^ojjn  Song 


moss.  This  increased  their  surprise,  and  after 
consulting  together  they  continued  advancing 
towards  the  beast,  and  fired  large  shot,  without 
appearing  to  make  any  impression.  They  fired 
again  with  as  little  effect  as  before;  then  re¬ 
treated  some  distance,  sat  down  and  sang  war 
songs,  addressing  themselves  to  the  Master  of 
Life  and  desiring  his  assistance  to  enable  them 
to  conquer  it,  as  they  believed  it  to  be  the 
Matchee  Mannitoo,  or  bad  spirit,  in  the  shape 
of  this  monster.  Then  they  got  up  and  pur¬ 
sued  him,  both  firing  at  the  same  time.  The 
shots  proved  successful  and  caused  the  animal 
to  turn  round,  which  induced  them  to  keep 
up  their  fire  till  the  beast  jumped  into  the 
water  and  they  lost  sight  of  him.  From  the 
circumstance  of  his  blood  dyeing  the  water 
red,  this  lake  has  ever  since  been  called  the 
Red  Lake. 

Fish  is  caught  here  in  great  abundance,  and 
wild  rice  grows  in  very  great  plenty  in  the 
swamps.  The  country  likewise  abounds  with 
all  sorts  of  animals  for  hunting.  There  are 
several  rivers  and  falls  of  water  on  the  north¬ 
west  part.  The  Indians  are  very  fond  of  fishing 
and  hunting  here  during  the  winter  season,  as 
they  are  generally  successful  even  in  the  most 
severe  weather.  From  Red  Lake  to  Lake  le 
Sel,  or  Salt  Lake,  by  the  Indian  accounts, 
there  are  fourteen  short  portages,  and  twenty- 
two  creeks.  Lake  le  Sel  is  very  small,  and  the 
water  shallow  and  muddy.  It  does  not  exceed 


104 


t£opage£  anti  €rabd£ 


three  miles  in  length.  There  are  few  fish  except 
eels,  catfish,  and  pike,  but  it  abounds  with 
musquashes  and  wild  fowl.  From  this  lake  to 
Lake  Caribou,  or  Reindeer  Lake,  is  eight  days’ 
march  across  five  creeks  and  three  portages. 

Lake  Caribou,  or,  in  the  Indian  language, 
Ateeque,  is  about  thirty  miles  long,  with  several 
small  islands,  resembling  the  Mille  Isles  in  the 
River  St.  Lawrence  above  Montreal.  The 
water  is  deep  and  clear,  and  the  bottom  hard. 
It  abounds  with  large  trout,  whitefish,  pickerel, 
pike,  and  sturgeon.  It  is  surrounded  by  a  chain 
of  high  mountains.  Some  years  ago  a  French 
trader  settled  here,  but  of  late  it  has  been 
deserted.  The  Indians  reckon  it  ten  days’ 
march  to  Lake  Schabeechevan,  across  thirteen 
portages,  and  as  many  creeks;  but  as  I  wintered 
here  the  following  year,  though  I  went  to  it 
by  a  different  track,  I  shall  not  describe  it  till 
I  give  an  account  of  the  occurrences  of  that 
time.  From  Lake  Schabeechevan  to  Lake 
Arbitibis  are  three  small  lakes,  eight  creeks, 
and  five  portages.  Lake  Arbitibis  is  very  large, 
and  the  surrounding  land  rocky  and  moun¬ 
tainous.  This  lake  furnishes  the  Indians  with 
fish  and  wild  fowl.  The  aquatic  race  abound 
in  this  part  of  the  world,  doubtless  so  appointed 
for  the  support  of  the  numerous  tribes  of 
savages  who  are  obliged  to  resort  to  the  lakes 
for  food.  At  the  northern  extremity  of  this 
lake  is  a  large  fall  of  water,  which  flows  from  a 
river  whose  current  is  rapid  for  about  twenty 


Song 


miles.  On  this  river  there  are  also  dangerous 
rapids;  the  land  upon  its  banks  is  low,  and  the 
beach  sandy.  From  Lake  Arbitibis  to  Crow’s- 
nest  Lake,  called  by  the  Indians,  Cark  Cark 
Sakiegan,  is  a  short  distance.  The  utmost 
circumference  of  Crow’s-nest  Lake  scarcely 
exceeds  two  leagues,  and  [it]  is  only  remarkable 
for  a  small  island  in  the  middle,  with  about 
forty  high  palm  trees,  where  the  crows  build 
their  nests,  which  is  called  Cark  Cark  Min- 
nesey.  The  fish  in  this  lake  are  very  indifferent, 
being  mostly  of  the  sword-fish  kind,  which  the 
Indians  seldom  eat.  From  this  lake  is  a  long 
portage,  and  about  half  way  a  high  mountain. 
At  the  end  of  the  carrying  place  is  a  river 
called  Cark  Cark  Seepi,  or  Crow’s  River, 
which  runs  with  a  strong  current  for  about 
thirty  miles  from  Neeshshemaince  Sakiegan, 
or  the  Lake  of  the  Two  Sisters,  so  called  from 
the  meeting  of  two  currents,  which  form  one 
grand  discharge  into  the  lake.  The  Hudson 
Bay  Indians  hunt  here  with  great  success.  At 
the  end  is  a  carrying  place  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  long  that  leads  to  a  remarkably  narrow 
river,  which  runs  with  a  strong  current  for 
about  fifty  leagues.  The  land  on  each  side, 
being  very  high,  makes  the  navigation  dark. 
The  Indians  in  going  up  this  river  travel  as 
light  as  possible  to  enable  them  to  combat  the 
strong  current.  The  Hudson’s  Bay  Company 
are  supplied  with  a  considerable  quantity  of 
peltry  from  this  river. 

106 


I^opageg  and  €ratod£ 


As  the  description  of  this  country,  hitherto 
so  little  explored,  is  a  principal  part  of  what  I 
intended  in  this  publication,  I  have  described 
it  either  from  my  own  knowledge  or  the  most 
authentic  information  I  was  able  to  procure 
from  the  savages.  In  this  respect  I  have 
followed  Carver,  who  on  his  arrival  at  the 
Grand  Portage  met  a  party  of  Killistinoe  and 
Assinipoil  Indians,  from  whom  he  received 
accounts  of  several  lakes  and  rivers,  which  he 
describes  agreeably  to  the  information  he 
obtained. 

It  is  necessary  to  observe  that  though  the 
Indians  are  very  expert  in  delineating  countries 
upon  bark  with  wood-coal  mixed  with  bear’s 
grease,  and  which  even  the  women  do  with 
great  precision,  the  length  of  a  day’s  march  is 
very  uncertain  and  consequently  cannot  afford 
any  geographical  information.  This  remark,  I 
trust,  will  be  found  to  want  no  further  proof 
than  the  consideration  that  their  drafts  consist 
principally  of  lakes  and  rivers,  as  they  seldom 
travel  much  by  land;  and  when  their  track 
overland  is  described,  it  is  perhaps  only  a  short 
portage  which  they  cross  in  order  again  to 
pursue  their  journey  on  their  favorite  element. 
But  as  few  persons  will  probably  read  this 
account  with  a  view  of  going  into  this  country, 
the  description  I  have  been  able  to  give  will 
be  sufficient  for  the  generality  of  my  readers. 
I  lament  exceedingly  my  inability  to  make 
this  work  more  perfect,  but  trust  that  it  will 


107 


Hlotig 


be  found  highly  useful  to  those  whose  avoca¬ 
tions  may  induce  them  to  have  recourse  to  it 
for  information  and  guidance  in  commercial 
pursuits.  If  an  Indian  goes  with  the  stream, 
or  against  it,  from  sunrise  to  sunset,  it  is  called 
a  day’s  march.  This  uncertainty  makes  it  very 
difficult  for  any  one  who  travels  as  a  trader  to 
ascertain  anything  more  than  the  Indian 
distance  from  one  lake  to  another.  As  Mr. 
Carver,  in  his  map,  says  that  the  branches 
which  run  from  Riviere  St.  Louis,  at  the  end 
of  West  Bay,  in  Lake  Superior,  are  but  little 
known,  I  can  with  equal  propriety  observe 
that  those  from  Lake  Alemipigon,  or  Nipigon, 
both  east  and  west,  are  very  difficult  to 
describe  geographically.  The  known  candor 
of  my  countrymen  will,  I  am  persuaded,  par¬ 
don  any  errors  of  this  sort,  as  I  can  assure 
them  I  have  exerted  my  best  endeavors  to 
render  the  description  of  places  with  respect 
to  distances  and  situation  as  clear  as  possible, 
which  the  chart,  I  hope,  will  more  fully  explain. 


Chapter  10 


RETURN  TO  LAKE  SUPERIOR 

HAVING  given  an  account  of  the  dif¬ 
ferent  lakes,  rivers,  etc.,  from  Lac  la 
Mort,  I  shall  continue  the  narrative 
from  my  return  from  Lake  Manontoye,  where 
I  relieved  Mr.  Shaw. 

A  few  days  after,  another  band  of  savages 
arrived  with  skins,  furs,  and  some  provisions. 
They  stayed  with  me  two  days,  making  merry 
with  what  rum  I  could  spare  them,  without 
doing  any  mischief,  and  departed  at  last  very 
peaceably.  On  the  twenty- third  of  February 
another  band  came  in,  consisting  of  about 
eighty  men,  women,  and  children,  who  brought 
dried  meats,  oats,  bear’s  grease,  and  eight 
packs  of  beaver,  which  I  purchased,  giving 
them  rum  as  usual,  with  which  they  got  in¬ 
toxicated.  In  this  frolic  one  woman  was  killed 
and  a  boy  terribly  burned.  On  the  third  day 
they  departed,  well  pleased  with  their  recep¬ 
tion,  leaving  us  plenty  of  provisions.  The 
_  weather  being  more  moderate,  I  sent  my  men 
to  the  lake  to  look  after  the  nets,  which  had 
been  under  the  ice  a  considerable  time,  the 
severity  of  the  season  not  having  allowed  us  to 
examine  them  for  nearly  a  month,  when  to  our 
great  mortification  they  were  found  almost 


Hong 


rotten,  and  not  a  single  fish;  but  as  one  of  the 
Canadians  could  make  nets  as  well  as  myself, 
we  repaired  the  damage,  and  caught  plenty  of 
fish  to  support  us  till  April. 

The  severity  of  the  season  was  sensibly  felt 
by  Mr.  James  Clark,  belonging  to  the  same 
company,  who  had  five  men  starved  at  Lake 
Savan,  a  bad  lake  for  fish,  about  350  miles 
from  my  wintering  ground,  the  Indians  being 
obliged  to  hunt  so  far  back  in  the  woods  that 
they  could  not  give  him  any  assistance;  and 
from  the  concurrent  accounts  of  the  traders 
in  the  Northwest,  as  well  as  from  the  savages 
who  resorted  to  my  house,  it  was  the  hardest 
winter  they  ever  remembered. 

About  this  time  a  large  band  of  Chippewas 
arrived,  traded  with  me  for  their  hunt,  and 
finished  their  frolic  in  a  peaceable  manner. 
While  this  band  was  with  me  a  curious  cir¬ 
cumstance  occurred,  which  I  shall  relate. 

One  part  of  the  religious  superstition  of  the 
savages  consists  in  each  of  them  having  his 
totem,  or  favorite  spirit,  which  he  believes 
watches  over  him.  This  totem,  they  conceive, 
assumes  the  shape  of  some  beast  or  other,  and 
therefore  they  never  kill,  hunt,  or  eat  the 
animal  whose  form  they  think  this  totem  bears. 

The  evening  previous  to  the  departure  of  the 
band,  one  of  them,  whose  totem  was  a  bear, 
dreamed  that  if  he  would  go  to  a  piece  of 
swampy  ground  at  the  foot  of  a  high  mountain, 
about  five  days’  march  from  my  wigwam,  he 


no 


I^opageg  antJ  Crated 


would  see  a  large  herd  of  elks,  moose,  and  other 
animals;  but  that  he  must  be  accompanied  by 
at  least  ten  good  hunters.  When  he  awoke  he 
acquainted  the  band  with  his  dream  and 
desired  them  to  go  with  him:  they  all  refused, 
saying  it  was  out  of  their  way,  and  that  their 
hunting  grounds  were  nearer.  The  Indian 
having  a  superstitious  reverence  for  his  dream 
(which  ignorance  and  the  prevalence  of  exam¬ 
ple  among  the  savages  carries  to  a  great 
height),  thinking  himself  obliged  to  do  so,  as 
his  companions  had  refused  to  go  with  him, 
went  alone,  and  coming  near  the  spot,  saw  the 
animals  he  dreamed  of.  He  instantly  fired,  and 
killed  a  bear.  Shocked  at  the  transaction,  and 
dreading  the  displeasure  of  the  Master  of  Life, 
whom  he  conceived  he  had  highly  offended, 
he  fell  down  and  lay  senseless  for  some 
time.  Recovering  from  his  state  of  insensibil¬ 
ity,  he  got  up  and  was  making  the  best  of  his 
way  to  my  house  when  he  was  met  in  the  road 
by  another  large  bear,  who  pulled  him  down 
and  scratched  his  face.  The  Indian,  relating 
this  event  at  his  return,  added,  in  the  simplicity 
of  his  nature,  that  the  bear  asked  him  what 
could  induce  him  to  kill  his  totem;  to  which 
he  replied  that  he  did  not  know  he  was 
among  the  animals  when  he  fired  at  the  herd; 
that  he  was  very  sorry  for  the  misfortune,  and 
hoped  he  would  have  pity  on  him;  that  the 
bear  suffered  him  to  depart,  told  him  to  be 
more  cautious  in  future,  and  acquaint  all  the 


hi 


^ofjit  Hong 


Indians  with  the  circumstance,  that  their 
totems  might  be  safe  and  the  Master  of  Life 
not  angry  with  them.  As  he  entered  my 
house  he  looked  at  me  very  earnestly  and 
pronounced  these  words:  “Amik,  liunjey  ta 
Kitchee  Annascartissey  nin,0  Totem,  cawwicka 
nee  wee  geos  say  sannegat  debwoye”;  or,  “Bea¬ 
ver,  my  faith  is  lost,  my  totem  is  angry,  I  shall 
never  be  able  to  hunt  any  more.” 

This  idea  of  destiny,  or,  if  I  may  be  allowed 
the  phrase,  “totemism,”  however  strange,  is 
not  confined  to  the  savages;  many  instances 
might  be  adduced  from  history  to  prove  how 
strong  these  impressions  have  been  on  minds 
above  the  vulgar  and  unlearned.  For  instance 
one  in  the  history  of  the  private  life  of  Louis 
XV,  translated  by  Justamond:  Among  some 
particulars  of  the  life  of  the  famous  Samuel 
Bernard,  the  Jew  banker  of  the  court  of 
France,  he  says  that  he  was  superstitious  as 
the  people  of  his  nation  are,  and  had  a  black 
hen  to  which  he  thought  his  destiny  was 
attached;  he  had  the  greatest  care  taken  of 
her,  and  the  loss  of  this  fowl  was,  in  fact,  the 
period  of  his  own  existence,  in  January,  1739. 

Dreams  are  particularly  attended  to  by  the 
Indians,  and  sometimes  they  make  an  artful 
use  of  the  veneration  that  is  paid  to  them,  by 
which  they  carry  a  point  they  have  in  view. 
I  shall  relate  an  instance  for  the  satisfaction 
of  the  reader. 

Sir  William  Johnson,  sitting  in  council  with 


IDopngts  anti  €i*atod£ 


a  party  of  Mohawks,  the  head  chief  told  him 
he  had  dreamed  last  night  that  he  had  given 
him  a  fine  laced  coat,  and  he  believed  it  was 
the  same  he  then  wore.  Sir  William  smiled 
and  asked  the  chief  if  he  really  dreamed  it; 
the  Indian  immediately  answered  in  the  affirm¬ 
ative.  “Well  then,”  says  Sir  William,  “you 
must  have  it”;  and  instantly  pulled  it  off, 
and  desiring  the  chief  to  strip  himself,  put 
on  him  the  fine  coat.  The  Indian  was  highly 
delighted  and  when  the  council  broke  up  de¬ 
parted  in  great  good  humor,  crying  out, 
who-ah,  which  is  an  expression  of  great  satis¬ 
faction  among  them. 

The  next  council  which  was  held,  Sir  William 
told  the  chief  that  he  was  not  accustomed  to 
dream,  but  that  since  he  met  him  at  the  council 
he  had  dreamed  a  very  surprising  dream;  the 
Indian  wished  to  know  it.  Sir  William,  with 
some  hesitation,  told  him  he  had  dreamed  that 
he  had  given  him  a  tract  of  land  on  the 
Mohawk  River  to  build  a  house  on  and  make 
a  settlement,  extending  about  nine  miles  in 
length  along  the  banks.  The  chief  smiled  and 
looking  very  cheerfully  at  Sir  William  told 
him  if  he  really  dreamed  it  he  should  have  it; 
but  that  he  would  never  dream  again  with 
him  for  he  had  only  got  a  laced  coat,  whereas 
Sir  William  was  now  entitled  to  a  large  bed,  on 
which  his  ancestors  had  frequently  slept.  Sir 
William  took  possession  of  the  land  by  virtue 
of  an  Indian  deed  signed  by  the  chiefs,  and 


^ofm  Eottg 


gave  them  some  rum  to  finish  the  business.  It 
is  now  a  considerable  estate,  but  since  the  war 
the  Americans  have  deprived  him  of  it,  with 
all  the  buildings,  etc.,  which  are  very  valuable. 
It  lies  on  the  opposite  shore  to  the  German 
Flats,  but  the  land  is  by  no  means  equal  in 
goodness  with  the  soil  there.  Perhaps  no  part 
of  America  produces  land  better  calculated 
for  cultivation  than  the  German  Flats. 

During  the  American  war  the  best  Loyalist 
troops  were  collected  from  the  Mohawk  River 
and  it  was  agreed  on  all  hands  that  for  stead¬ 
iness,  bravery,  and  allegiance  they  were  not 
to  be  excelled.  Government  has  done  its 
utmost  to  reward  many  of  them  for  their 
services,  by  giving  them  land  in  Canada  and 
Nova  Scotia;  and  to  those  whom  poverty 
obliged  to  solicit  them,  implements  of  hus¬ 
bandry.  They  are  now  in  a  very  flourishing 
state,  and  there  is  no  doubt  but  they  will 
prove  valuable  friends  and  supporters  of  Great 
Britain  in  any  future  emergency. 

During  the  severe  weather  I  had  a  narrow 
escape  from  a  contrivance  of  the  Indian  who 
was  occasionally  with  me,  and  whom  I  em¬ 
ployed  in  hunting  and  making  marten  traps. 
This  was  occasioned  by  jealousy  on  account 
of  his  wife,  who  was  a  pretty  young  squaw 
of  the  Rat  nation,  and  whom  he  suspected  of 
infidelity. 

Being  short  of  provisions  and  having  only 
one  faithful  Canadian  in  the  house,  except  the 


Bopageg  anU  Cratoelg 


Indian  and  his  wife,  I  desired  him  to  make  a 
number  of  marten  traps  and  set  them  in  two 
different  roads,  called  a  fork.  Having  finished 
about  200  and  set  them  in  the  woods,  baited 
with  fish-heads,  which  these  animals  are  very 
fond  of,  he  returned  and  I  gave  him  some  rum 
for  his  trouble.  Every  day  for  a  considerable 
time  he  went  regularly  to  examine  them,  and 
when  successful  was  always  rewarded  to  his 
satisfaction.  Having  been  unfortunate  several 
days,  I  charged  him  with  doing  other  business 
instead  of  examining  the  traps,  to  which  he 
made  no  reply.  I  communicated  my  suspicions 
to  my  man  and  desired  him  to  watch  the 
savage.  The  next  day  the  Canadian  dis¬ 
covered  him  in  the  woods,  dressing  some 
partridges;  when  he  returned  home  in  the 
evening  he  asked  for  rum,  which  I  refused, 
telling  him  he  did  not  deserve  any.  This 
answer  displeased  him,  and  looking  earnestly 
at  me,  he  replied  that  I  did  not  use  him  well; 
for  though  he  had  been  unsuccessful  with  his 
traps,  his  trouble  was  the  same;  and  that  he 
generally  found  them  out  of  order,  which 
obliged  him  to  set  them  right  and  employed 
him  the  whole  next  day.  This  excuse  did  not 
make  any  alteration  in  my  conduct,  and  I  told 
him  the  weather  was  too  bad  to  get  at  any 
rum.  He  then  began  to  imagine  that  I  sus¬ 
pected  him  and  knew  of  his  laziness,  and 
immediately  opened  his  mind,  telling  me  very 
frankly  that  he  was  jealous  of  me;  and  that 


^ofjn  Slung 


his  reason  for  not  going  to  examine  the  marten 
traps  was  to  prevent  any  communication  be¬ 
tween  me  and  his  wife,  which,  had  he  been  far 
distant  from  home,  might  have  been  easily 
effected;  and  for  this  reason  he  kept  near  the 
house  to  watch  her,  knowing  that  she  was  fond 
of  me;  but  that  if  I  would  give  him  some  rum 
to  drive  away  the  bad  spirit  from  his  heart, 
he  would  endeavor  to  forget  the  injury  I  had 
done  him. 

Judging  it  prudent  to  remove  his  suspicions, 
I  gave  him  two  gallons  of  rum,  a  carrot  of 
tobacco,  a  shirt,  a  pair  of  leggings,  a  scalping- 
knife,  etc.,  and  several  articles  to  his  wife. 
Having  received  the  presents,  he  called  her  to 
drink  with  him  and  thank  the  trader  with  a 
cheerful  heart  for  his  great  kindness.  When 
they  were  a  little  merry  he  began  to  sing,  and 
I  heard  him  repeat  these  words:  “ Mornooch 
Amik  kee  zargetoone  mentimoyamish,”  or,  “I 
do  not  care  though  the  Beaver  loves  my  wife.” 
This  did  not  please  me  as  I  knew  his  jealousy 
would  increase  in  proportion  to  the  quantity 
of  liquor  he  drank.  However,  I  used  the  ut¬ 
most  precaution,  securing  his  weapons  to 
prevent  his  doing  me  any  injury.  His  wife, 
hearing  him  repeat  the  words  so  frequently, 
began  to  be  angry  and  pulled  his  hair  and 
scratched  his  face.  I  thought  this  a  favorable 
opportunity  to  express  my  dislike,  and  told 
him  he  was  a  fool  to  be  jealous;  that  I  gave 
him  the  rum  to  drive  away  the  bad  spirit, 
116 


Bopage£  anti  €ratori£ 


but  it  had  [had]  a  contrary  effect;  that  I  never 
wanted  anything  of  his  wife  but  to  make  or 
mend  snowshoes,  and  always  paid  her  for  her 
trouble.  “Yes,”  cries  the  wife,  “he  is  a  fool, 
Beaver,  and  I  will  beat  him”;  which  she  in¬ 
stantly  did,  and  cut  his  head  with  a  glass 
bottle.  I  then  interfered  and  parted  them. 

The  moment  I  was  gone  he  began  the  old 
song,  and  continued  singing  till  he  was  sober; 
when,  getting  up,  he  came  to  me  and  said, 
“Beaver,  I  have  seen  the  bad  spirit  in  my 
dream,  who  told  me  that  the  trader  had 
robbed  me.”  Irritated  at  the  expression,  I 
told  him  his  lips  never  spoke  truth,  and  that 
he  had  no  sense;  and  thinking  it  right  to  sup¬ 
press  this  humor,  beat  him  very  severely. 
When  he  had  recovered  his  reason  he  said  to 
me,  “Beaver,  you  have  sense,  though  you 
have  spotted  my  carcass.”  I  then  remon¬ 
strated  with  him  on  the  great  folly  of  being 
jealous,  but  he  was  sullen  and  made  no  reply. 
He  then  called  his  wife,  but  she  being  asleep 
did  not  hear  him;  he  called  a  second  time,  and 
asked  for  his  gun,  tomahawk,  and  scalping- 
knife;  but  not  receiving  any  answer  he  was 
very  angry,  and  said  to  me,  “Beaver,  I  will 
throw  away  my  body,”  to  which  I  did  not 
think  it  prudent  to  make  any  reply.  He  then 
laid  himself  down  on  the  ground  and  called 
his  wife  a  third  time.  She  came  to  him,  and 
observing  displeasure  in  his  countenance,  told 
him  not  to  be  angry  with  the  Beaver,  for  he 


5fot)n  Song 


was  a  great  warrior  and  always  opened  his 
heart  to  them.  He  ordered  her  to  bring  him  a 
bark  bowl  full  of  water,  and  set  it  down  care¬ 
fully  between  the  Beaver’s  legs.  Whilst  she 
was  gone  for  the  water  he  said  to  me,  “Come 
here,  Beaver,  and  I  will  show  you  that  I  have 
nothing  sweet  on  my  lips,  but  will  speak  the 
truth.”  The  wife  returned  and  placed  the 
bowl  of  water  as  her  husband  directed;  when 
it  had  stood  some  time  he  said,  “Beaver,  put 
your  finger  in  the  water  and  let  it  remain  till  I 
tell  you  to  take  it  out.”  I  obeyed  him  with 
the  utmost  cheerfulness,  and  in  a  few  minutes, 
by  his  desire,  withdrew  it.  He  then  said, 
“Beaver,  you  know  that  a  husband  is  so  called 
because  he  is  the  master  of  weakness,  and  for 
that  reason  he  should  protect  his  wife;  and 
at  the  same  time,  you,  as  a  trader,  should  not 
injure  me:  but  that  I  may  not  accuse  you  un¬ 
justly,  I  will  try  you  by  my  own  thoughts. 
Beaver,  look  at  my  wife  and  look  at  the 
water,  and  tell  me  where  you  have  put  your 
finger;  if  you  cannot  tell  you  have  certainly 
robbed  me.”  I  then  put  in  my  finger  again, 
and  pointed  out  the  place.  “No,”  said  he, 
looking  earnestly  at  me  and  his  wife,  “as  you 
cannot  be  certain  that  it  is  the  exact  place 
where  you  first  put  your  finger,  neither  can  I 
be  certain  that  you  have  not  robbed  me; 
though  I  as  much  believe  it  as  you  do  that  the 
place  you  pointed  out  was  the  exact  spot.” 
I  confessed  myself  surprised  at  his  disbelief, 


Bopageg  ants  Cratoelg 


but  not  [being]  willing  to  incense  him  I  told 
him  I  was  sorry  he  should  imagine  me  capable 
of  such  wickedness  as  to  be  guilty  of  injuring 
him,  for  my  mind  was  as  calm  as  the  water  in 
an  undisturbed  state;  and  after  giving  him  a 
few  presents,  sent  them  away,  enjoining  him 
to  use  his  wife  well,  as  she  was  perfectly  in¬ 
nocent.  As  they  departed  he  said  to  me, 
smiling,  “Beaver,  you  must  get  somebody  else 
to  look  after  your  marten  traps.” 

Adultery  among  the  northern  savages  is 
generally  punished  in  a  summary  way  by  the 
husband,  who  either  beats  his  wife  very 
severely  or  bites  off  her  nose.  It  is  extremely 
dangerous  for  a  trader  to  be  suspected,  for 
when  the  husband  is  intoxicated  his  jealousy 
rises  into  madness,  and  revenge,  whether  the 
party  suspected  be  innocent  or  guilty,  is 
continually  to  be  expected.  When  the  mind 
of  an  Indian  is  once  affected  his  passion  in¬ 
creases  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  of  rum 
which  he  drinks,  though  he  has  the  art  to 
conceal  it  when  he  is  sober.  It  is  the  baneful 
effect  of  rum  which  puts  every  jealous  thought 
in  motion,  and  then  it  knows  no  bounds  till 
intoxication  completely  overpowers  him  or 
returning  sobriety  restores  his  lost  reason. 

Early  in  the  month  of  April  I  received  a 
letter  from  Monsieur  Jacques  Santeron  at 
Lake  Schabeechevan,  in  the  same  employ  as 
myself,  to  inform  me  that  he  was  tired  of  being 
a  servant  and,  thinking  his  labors  not  suffi- 


S^ljn  Hong 


ciently  rewarded,  had  determined  to  make  a 
grand  coup,  having  a  number  of  fine  packs 
which  he  purposed  selling  to  the  Hudson’s 
Bay  Company;  that  he  should  leave  his  win¬ 
tering  ground  next  morning  with  four  birch 
canoes,  and  would  write  further  particulars  on 
bark,  which  he  should  nail  against  one  of  the 
crooked  trees  at  the  foot  of  the  Grand  Rapid, 
in  case  I  should  be  disposed  to  come  that 
way;  and  concluded  with  great  gaiete  de 
coeur,  wishing  me  and  all  my  friends  very  well. 

I  was  greatly  surprised  on  receiving  this 
unpleasant  intelligence,  and  particularly  as 
I  had  never  heard  of  his  integrity  being  im¬ 
peached  in  the  smallest  degree;  and  I  was 
disappointed,  as  I  expected  him  to  pass  my 
wintering  ground  on  his  return  to  Pays  Plat. 

Conceiving  it  my  duty  to  exert  my  best 
endeavors  to  prevent  the  loss  of  so  much 
property  to  my  employers,  I  engaged  Kesco- 
neek,  the  chief,  and  twenty  savages,  under 
promise  of  being  satisfied  for  their  trouble,  to 
conduct  me  to  the  crooked  trees.  We  went  off 
with  the  utmost  expedition  and  in  a  few  days 
arrived  at  the  spot,  where  I  saw  the  piece  of 
bark,  as  he  described,  and  the  following  words 
written  with  charcoal:  “ Adieu  mon  cher 
ami,  je  prends  mon  depart  avec  courage,  et 
j’attends  une  bonne  vente  pour  me  pelleterie. 
De  bon  coeur  je  vous  souhaite  la  prosperity 
jaites  mes  compliments  a  tons  mes  amis — au 
revoir  mon  cher  companion .” 


120 


Bopagc£  anJj  €ratod£ 


Having  perused  it  and  explained  it  to  the 
chief,  he  said  he  was  a  bad  spirit,  and  that  as 
he  had  been  gone  six  days  before  our  arrival 
it  would  be  impossible  to  overtake  him,  as  he 
could  not  be  far  from  the  entrance  of  the  North 
River,  leading  to  Hudson  Bay;  and  if  I  pur¬ 
sued  him  I  should  not  get  back  in  time  to 
trade  with  the  Indians  for  their  great  hunt. 
We  therefore  returned,  after  a  fruitless  expedi¬ 
tion,  extremely  mortified  at  the  disappoint¬ 
ment,  as  I  was  very  sensible  he  would  never 
return  to  Canada  to  make  satisfaction  to  his 
employers. 

Soon  after  my  return  the  grand  band  came 
in  with  all  their  winter’s  hunt,  which  they  call 
Kitchee  Artaway.  They  consisted  of  about 
thirty  families,  of  twenty  in  each.  He  who 
has  most  wives  is  considered  the  best  hunter, 
being  obliged  to  provide  for  their  maintenance 
by  his  own  industry.  The  Indians  laugh  at  the 
Europeans  for  having  only  one  wife,  and  that 
for  life,  as  they  conceive  the  Good  Spirit  formed 
them  to  be  happy,  and  not  to  continue  together 
unless  their  tempers  and  dispositions  were 
congenial. 

Having  bartered  for  their  skins  and  furs, 
they  asked  for  rum.  I  told  them  I  had  only 
one  small  keg  left,  which  I  would  give  them 
at  their  departure,  which  satisfied  them:  and 
when  they  were  ready  to  embark,  I  ordered  a 
Canadian  to  put  it  into  the  chief’s  canoe. 

Having  disposed  of  all  my  merchandise 


121 


Eong 


except  a  few  articles  and  a  small  quantity  of 
rum,  to  barter  with  any  Indians  I  might  hap¬ 
pen  to  meet  with  in  my  return  to  Pays  Plat, 
we  baled  up  our  peltry  and  on  the  twenty- 
third  of  May  left  Lac  la  Mort  with  four  small 
birch  canoes,  richly  laden  with  the  skins 
of  beavers,  otters,  martens,  mink,  loup  ser- 
viers,  beaver-eaters,  foxes,  bears,  etc. 

Before  I  proceed  to  relate  the  particulars  of 
my  voyage  I  shall  mention  the  Indian  manner 
of  killing  the  white  bear  and  the  buffalo.  The 
large  white  bear,  commonly  called  the  grizzly 
bear,  is  a  very  dangerous  animal.  When  the 
Indians  hunt  it  they  generally  go  six  or  eight 
in  a  band.  The  instant  they  see  one  they  en¬ 
deavor  to  surround  it  by  forming  a  large  circle: 
if  it  is  on  the  march  they  fire  at  it;  but  it 
is  most  frequently  discovered,  in  the  winter 
season,  sucking  its  paws.  In  that  case  they 
approach  nearer  and  form  a  double  row  for  the 
animal  to  run  between.  One  of  the  party  is 
then  sent  out,  who  fires  at  the  bear  and 
generally  wounds  it.  This  rouses  it  to  pursue 
the  Indian,  who  runs  between  the  ranks,  and 
the  rest  of  the  band  fire  and  soon  despatch  it. 

The  buffalo  I  need  not  describe;  it  is  well 
known  to  be  a  remarkably  strong  animal. 
The  Indians  say  its  head  is  bullet  proof,  and 
therefore  they  always  fire  at  the  body,  en¬ 
deavoring  to  hit  the  heart.  When  they  are  in 
pursuit  of  this  animal  they  make  up  small 
huts  of  snow  in  different  places,  for  near  a  mile 


122 


IDopages?  anti  €ratod£ 


in  length  on  each  side  of  the  road.  In  each  of 
these  huts  an  Indian  stands  with  a  bow  and 
arrow,  to  shoot  at  it  as  it  passes,  preferring 
that  mode  to  powder  and  ball  as  it  does  not 
alarm  the  rest  of  the  herd.  The  snow  prevents 
the  buffalo  from  smelling  the  Indians,  though 
their  scent  is  very  strong  and  quick.  The 
instant  the  animal  drops  they  tomahawk  it. 

On  the  second  of  July  we  arrived  at  Portage 
Plain,  so  called  on  account  of  its  being  a  barren 
rock,  near  a  mile  long,  joining  to  Lake  Alemi- 
pigon.  It  was  sunset  when  we  encamped. 
Besides  the  sixteen  Canadians,  our  party  was 
increased  considerably  by  about  twenty  of  the 
Sturgeon  and  Nipigon  Indians,  who  accom¬ 
panied  us  according  to  the  usual  custom  of 
following  the  trader  to  assist  at  the  carrying 
places.  The  day  previous  to  our  departure 
some  traders  overtook  us,  and  encamped  also. 
They  informed  us  of  a  band  of  Indians  who 
were  enemies  to  the  Nipigons  being  near  at 
hand,  and  desired  me  to  acquaint  the  savages 
with  it.  Before  their  arrival  the  Sturgeon 
Indians  left  us,  and  the  other  band  would  fain 
have  quitted  the  ground;  but  upon  telling  them 
I  wanted  their  assistance  on  my  journey,  they 
agreed  to  stay,  though  I  thought  very  re¬ 
luctantly. 

We  soon  discovered  several  canoes,  and  in 
about  half  an  hour  the  Indians  landed.  They 
were  of  the  nation  of  the  Wasses,  and  always 
at  war  with  our  savages.  Being  a  select  people, 


123 


^ofm  Hong 


they  seldom  associate  with  other  tribes,  and 
are  continually  on  the  hunt,  only  making  their 
appearance  in  spring  and  autumn.  We  re¬ 
ceived  them  very  cordially,  and  after  the  usual 
forms  of  salutation,  made  mutual  presents  to 
each  other.  They  told  me  they  had  heard  of 
me  by  some  Indians  at  Lac  la  Mort,  and  were 
desirous  of  seeing  me  before  my  return  to 
Michilimackinac,  or  in  their  language  T ecodon- 
doraghie. 

I  soon  perceived  the  uneasiness  of  my 
Indians  and  was  careful  to  keep  them  at  some 
distance  from  each  other;  but  all  my  pre¬ 
caution  was  ineffectual,  and  before  my  de¬ 
parture  a  most  dreadful  catastrophe  was  the 
consequence  of  their  mutual  hatred. 

Our  Indians,  having  made  up  huts,  began  to 
sing  their  medicine  songs  to  induce  the 
Wasses  to  partake  of  a  feast  which  they  said 
they  intended  to  make,  with  a  view  of  pre¬ 
venting  any  dispute  with  them;  but  knowing 
that  the  Nipigons  had  no  provisions  but  what 
I  found  them,  I  suspected  their  intentions 
were  not  so  pacific  as  they  pretended.  This 
induced  me  to  ask  a  boy  belonging  to  the 
band  why  they  pretended  to  make  a  feast 
without  having  any  provision  to  do  it.  He 
replied  that  the  Wasses  had  made  them  a 
present  of  dried  meat,  and  with  this  and  some 
huckleberries  they  had  saved  they  intended 
to  make  their  visitants  merry.  This  answer 
confirmed  my  suspicions,  as  no  feast  is  ever 


124 


l^opageg  anil  €rabd£ 


made  where  friendship  is  intended  without  in¬ 
viting  the  trader,  and  as  no  notice  was  sent  me 
I  dreaded  the  evil  consequence  of  their  meeting. 

Deliberating  with  myself  on  the  unpleasant 
prospect,  and  considering  how  to  act  to  pre¬ 
vent  mischief,  I  was  interrupted  in  my  med¬ 
itations  by  a  savage  (. Ayarbee ,  or  the  Big  Man), 
wha  came  to  give  me  intelligence  of  an  in¬ 
tended  plan  to  destroy  the  Nipigon  Indians, 
and  which  was  communicated  to  him  by  an  old 
woman  who  belonged  to  the  band  of  Wasses. 

In  about  an  hour  the  Nipigon  huts  were  in 
order  to  receive  their  intended  guests,  who 
were  encamped  in  a  hollow  surrounded  with 
cedar  trees  and  bushes  close  to  the  lake  side. 
The  Nipigons,  being  determined  to  counteract 
the  designs  of  their  deceitful  visitors  and  pun¬ 
ish  their  intended  perfidy,  made  holes  in  the 
bark  of  their  huts,  in  which  they  placed  their 
guns,  loaded  with  swan  shot.  Each  man 
taking  his  station,  the  Wasses  to  the  number 
of  eighteen  ascended  the  hill  and  were  coming 
prepared  to  partake  of  the  feast,  with  knives 
and  wooden  bowls,  intending  to  overpower  the 
Nipigons  on  a  given  signal;  but  they  were 
fatally  disappointed,  for  when  they  got 
within  thirty  yards  of  the  Nipigon  huts  they 
were  fired  at  and  all  the  band  except  a  girl 
about  fourteen  years  of  age  killed  on  the  spot; 
she  was  dangerously  wounded,  but  advanced 
with  a  gun,  which  she  snatched  from  an  Indian 
who  was  preparing  to  despatch  her,  and  shot 


125 


Stofjn  Song 


Ayarbee  through  the  head,  and  was  herself 
soon  after  tomahawked  and  scalped  by  a 
Nipigon  boy  about  the  same  age,  who  at  such 
an  early  period  of  life  displayed  all  that 
ferocity  which  marks  the  most  determined 
chief. 

Thus  was  treachery  rewarded:  and  though 
in  my  heart  I  could  not  but  approve  of  the 
conduct  of  the  Nipigon  Indians,  I  was  afraid 
of  trusting  to  them  and  had  resolved  on  taking 
my  leave  of  them  when  the  chief  came  up 
and  informed  me  he  was  very  sorry  that  his 
band  could  not  accompany  me  any  farther, 
for  being  afraid  of  the  resentment  of  the 
Wasses,  when  they  came  to  hear  of  the  trans¬ 
action,  notwithstanding  they  had  done  it  in 
their  own  defense,  they  had  determined  to 
depart;  and  soon  after  pushed  off  their  canoes 
and  left  me,  a  circumstance  which  pleased  me 
exceedingly.  The  next  day  a  party  of  Indians 
met  us,  to  whom  I  related  the  disaster.  They 
were  very  much  shocked,  and  said  the  Nipigon 
Indians  might  repent  their  rash  conduct, 
though  at  the  same  time  they  acknowledged 
them  right  in  guarding  against  the  designs  of 
the  Wasses.  They  asked  me  if  I  had  got  their 
packs,  as  they  assured  me  they  had  made  a 
good  hunt  and  had  rich  peltry.  This  informa¬ 
tion  vexed  me  exceedingly,  as  I  should  cer¬ 
tainly  have  increased  my  cargo  had  not  the 
affair  happened,  and  likewise  have  given  more 
satisfaction  to  my  employers,  though  I  had 
126 


Bopageg?  anti  €ratoelg 


already  a  large  quantity  of  goods  and  had 
every  reason  to  be  pleased  with  my  success. 
The  Nipigons  made  up  fourteen  bales  of 
dried  meat,  which  they  took  with  them;  but 
the  furs  and  skins  were  hidden  in  the  woods 
and  never  afterwards  found  that  I  heard  of. 

We  continued  our  journey  to  Lac  Eturgeon, 
where  soon  after  our  landing  we  killed  a  great 
many  wild  fowl  and  caught  plenty  of  fish. 
Here  we  met  about  fifty  of  the  Hawoyzask,  or 
Rat  Nation  Indians,  with  whom  I  made  a 
small  barter,  chiefly  with  rum,  having  dis¬ 
posed  of  all  my  Indian  goods. 

Our  journey  was  retarded  for  some  time  in 
order  to  gratify  my  curiosity.  A  young  Indian 
girl  fell  sick,  and  the  chief  desired  me  to  stay 
to  see  the  wonderful  effects  of  their  medicines, 
as  she  was  very  bad,  and  without  immediate 
assistance,  he  said,  must  soon  change  her  cli¬ 
mate.  The  physician  who  attended  her  said 
that  the  Matchee  Mannitoo,  or  bad  spirit, 
had  put  the  bear’s  claws  into  her,  and  his 
medicines  would  remove  them.  A  hut  was 
prepared  and  the  girl  stripped  to  her  matchee- 
coaty,  or  under  petticoat;  she  was  then  painted 
with  vermilion  and  daubed  over  with  soot  and 
bear’s  grease  and  profusely  sweated,  which 
soon  relieved  her  pain.  During  the  operation 
the  physician  addressed  himself  to  the  Master 
of  Life,  begging  his  assistance  and  thanking 
him  for  giving  knowledge  to  restore  health. 
Then,  giving  her  a  decoction  of  roots,  he  made 


127 


Song 


a  perfect  cure.37  I  could  not  help  admiring 
his  skill  and  manner  of  proceeding,  though  I 
attributed  her  recovery  solely  to  the  plentiful 
perspiration  she  underwent. 

Previous  to  our  departure  one  of  the  women 
was  delivered  of  a  fine  boy,  and  I  was  highly 
delighted  with  the  mother’s  tenderness  as  the 
infant  sucked  the  milk,  which  in  their  language 
is  called  tootooshonarbo,  or  the  sap  of  the  human 
breast,  an  expression  which  struck  me  forcibly. 
The  husband  was  also  very  attentive  and 
performed  the  part  of  an  affectionate  parent, 
which  induced  me  to  give  him  some  rum  to 
cheer  his  heart  and  drink  my  health.  He 
seemed  pleased  with  the  present,  and  address¬ 
ing  himself  to  the  Great  Spirit  thanked  him 
for  the  safe  delivery  of  his  mentimoye:  then 
looking  very  earnestly  at  me,  [he]  told  me  how 
much  he  was  indebted  to  me  for  the  comfort 
that  I  had  afforded  him,  and  that  he  was  sure 
that  I  was  a  brave  warrior,  for  my  generosity 
to  him  and  his  wife  when  they  so  much  wanted 
assistance.  When  the  young  warrior  cried, 
he  observed  that  he  wished  to  be  grateful  to 
me  for  my  attention  to  his  parents,  and  that 
it  was  only  the  echo  of  his  breath  (meaning 
his  voice)  to  praise  the  goodness  of  the  Sag- 
gonash,  or  Englishman.  As  I  got  into  my  canoe 
he  said,  “Beaver,  be  strong,  you  will  always 
have  a  public  road  among  the  Nipigon 

37  On  the  practices  of  the  medicine  men  compare 
Alexander  Henry’s  Travels  and  Adventures ,j>p.  113-22. 

128 


Bopageg  anfe  Crab  rig 


Indians,  therefore  return  as  soon  as  you  can. 
In  the  meantime  I  shall  take  care  to  acquaint 
all  the  Indians  with  your  goodness,  and  I  hope 
when  we  see  you  again  we  shall  have  had  a 
good  hunt  and  be  able  to  give  you  furs  and 
skins  to  repay  your  kindness.”  I  told  him  I 
always  loved  the  Indians,  that  I  was  adopted 
by  the  Chippewas  and  considered  myself  as 
one  of  their  tribe;  that  I  would  return  as  soon 
as  possible  with  plenty  of  goods  for  their 
families;  that  my  heart  was  melted  by  his 
regard  for  me;  and  giving  him  and  his  wife 
each  a  parting  glass  of  the  strong  water,  [I] 
took  my  leave  and  pursued  my  journey. 

We  arrived  at  Pays  Plat  on  the  tenth  of 
August,  where  I  met  some  brother  traders 
who  had  been  in  different  parts  of  the  inlands, 
particularly  the  Northwest.  Here  we  waited 
for  fresh  goods  from  our  employers  and  en¬ 
joyed  ourselves  with  the  remains  of  our  dif¬ 
ferent  provisions,  which  we  threw  into  a 
common  stock,  and  made  ourselves  merry  with 
the  scanty  pittance,  recounting  our  several 
adventures:  but  none  of  them  had  suffered 
the  difficulties  I  had  experienced,  except  Mr. 
Shaw,  whom  I  happily  relieved  at  Lake 
Manontoye,  the  rest  of  the  traders  having 
wintered  very  remote  from  me,  by  the  way  of 
the  Grand  Portage.  Soon  after  our  arrival 
our  employers  sent  their  agents  with  a  fresh 
assortment  of  merchandise  and  provisions, 
which  rejoiced  us  exceedingly,  having  been  a 


129 


Stofm  Hong 


considerable  time  without  corn  or  grease,  and 
absent  from  Michilimackinac  about  fourteen 
months.  I  delivered  my  cargo  of  furs,  consist¬ 
ing  of  about  140  packs  in  good  condition,  and 
loaded  the  canoes  with  the  fresh  goods;  then 
taking  leave  of  my  companions,  [  I  ]  prepared  for 
my  departure  for  the  inlands  to  winter  another 
year  among  the  Nipigon  savages.  But  before 
I  begin  to  relate  my  second  adventure  I  cannot 
forbear  making  some  observations  on  the 
hardships  attending  an  Indian  life,  particu¬ 
larly  as  an  interpreter  and  trader. 

My  salary  was  about  £150  per  annum,  which 
I  certainly  deserved,  considering  the  knowledge 
I  had  of  the  Chippewa  language. 

I  was  sent  into  the  inlands  with  only  corn 
and  hard  grease,  without  any  other  provisions 
I  could  rely  on;  for  as  to  fish  and  other  animal 
food,  the  former  in  a  great  measure  depends 
on  the  season,  the  latter  on  the  arrival  of 
savages;  and  though  in  general  I  was  success¬ 
ful  in  aquatic  pursuits,  and  received  frequent 
supplies  from  the  Indians,  it  was  a  precarious 
mode  of  subsistence,  and  at  Lac  la  Mort  I 
suffered  great  hardships. 

I  had  sixteen  men,  and  an  Indian  and  his 
wife  occasionally  with  me,  to  feed  and  govern, 
and  on  the  continuance  of  their  health  my 
existence  in  great  measure  depended.  As  it 
was  my  constant  duty  to  be  in  the  way  in  case 
of  the  arrival  of  savages,  being  the  only  one 
who  could  talk  their  language,  I  had  few 


Bopage£  anti  Crabefe 


opportunities  of  hunting,  neither  could  I  go 
far  abroad  to  examine  whether  the  Canadians 
did  their  duty  or  not.  I  was,  therefore,  always 
full  of  anxiety,  and  rejoiced  when  the  spring 
returned  to  set  me  free. 

The  constant  attention  necessary  in  taking 
care  of  the  goods  to  prevent  depredations;  the 
continual  fears  and  apprehensions  of  being 
plundered  by  a  set  of  intoxicated  beings; 
always  liable  to  insults,  without  daring  to 
resent  them;  and  when  I  had  bartered  all  my 
merchandise  and  made  a  successful  trip,  feeling 
a  painful  solicitude  till  the  fruits  of  my  labors 
were  safely  delivered  to  my  employers.  Upon 
the  whole,  perhaps  no  situation  can  be  more 
distressing,  and  it  has  often  filled  my  mind  with 
surprise  when  I  reflected  on  the  engagement  I 
entered  into,  which  consumed  the  prime  of 
my  days  in  a  traffic  the  dangers  and  fatigues 
of  which  scarce  any  salary  could  compensate. 
I  believe  nothing  but  the  flattering  idea  of 
thinking  myself  superior  to  others  as  an 
interpreter  prompted  me  to  continue  in  a 
station  so  fatiguing  to  support  and  so  difficult 
to  execute,  and  I  cannot  but  conclude  with  this 
observation:  that  however  censurable  a  man 
may  be  for  indulging  even  this  degree  of  pride, 
the  liberal  mind  will  easily  pardon  the  pre¬ 
sumption,  as  they  know  he  alone  is  the  sufferer; 
and  as  self-opinion  governs  the  pursuits  of 
mankind,  the  individual  who  is  most  influenced 
by  it  must  stand  or  fall  by  the  consequence. 


chapter  n 


SECOND  WINTER  AMONG  THE  NIPIGON 
INDIANS 

ON  the  fifteenth  of  August  I  left  Pays 
Plat  with  four  birch  canoes  and  the 
same  men  who  wintered  with  me  at 
Lac  la  Mort,  and  arrived  at  Riviere  la  Pique, 
which  runs  into  Lake  Superior.  This  river  is 
very  crooked  for  about  seven  miles,  and 
extremely  deep;  it  abounds  with  fish,  par¬ 
ticularly  pike,  from  which  it  takes  its  name. 
On  our  landing  we  found  a  large  band  of 
Chippewas  and  some  of  the  Rat  nation,  who 
immediately  prepared  a  feast  for  us  of  dried 
meat,  fish,  etc.  Among  them  was  an  Indian 
named  Ogasby,  or  the  Horse;  he  was  reckoned 
even  by  his  own  tribe  a  bad  Indian,  which 
put  me  on  my  guard  during  my  encampment 
there.  I  traded'  for  their  skins  and  furs  and 
gave  them  some  rum,  with  which  they  had  a 
frolic  which  lasted  for  three  days  and  nights; 
on  this  occasion  five  men  were  killed,  and  one 
woman  dreadfully  burned.  When  the  fumes 
of  the  liquor  had  evaporated  they  began,  as 
usual,  to  reflect  on  the  folly  of  their  conduct, 
and  all  except  Ogasby  expressed  great  concern. 
He  seemed  rather  to  be  pleased  at  the  mischief 
which  had  happened,  and  before  my  departure 


132 


Bopageg  anU  €rafedg 


I  was  informed  that  he  intended  to  destroy 
me  and  plunder  the  property.  To  frustrate 
his  villainous  intention,  I  kept  him  in  good 
humor  and  made  him  sleep  in  my  hut,  a  com¬ 
pliment  he  seemed  highly  pleased  with,  and 
which  I  believe  for  the  time  diverted  him  from 
his  purpose;  and  though  by  no  means  fond  of 
his  company,  I  judged  it  most  prudent  to  have 
my  enemy  in  sight.  In  the  morning  I  gave  him 
a  glass  of  rum  and  promised  him  a  two-gallon 
keg  to  carry  off  the  ground,  which,  as  the 
Indians  express  themselves,  drove  the  bad 
spirit  from  his  heart.  When  my  men  had  pre¬ 
pared  everything  for  embarkation  I  gave  the 
chief  of  the  band  the  liquor,  and  a  single 
bottle  of  rum  more  than  I  promised  to  Ogasby, 
unknown  to  the  rest,  in  which  I  had  infused  a 
considerable  quantity  of  laudanum.  Unsus¬ 
picious  of  what  I  had  done  he  put  the  bottle 
to  his  mouth,  and  shaking  me  by  the  hand, 
said  to  me,  “  Kee  talinimanco  negee,”  or, 
“Your  health,  friend,”  and  immediately  took 
a  hearty  draught,  which  soon  stupefied  and 
lulled  ham  into  a  profound  sleep  in  which,  I 
was  afterwards  informed,  he  remained  twelve 
hours,  depriving  him  of  the  power  of  doing 
harm;  and  that  soon  after,  an  Indian  who 
had  an  antipathy  against  him  and  only  sought 
an  opportunity  of  gratifying  his  resentment, 
tomahawked  him.  His  eldest  son  burned  him 
and  fixed  his  bones  on  a  high  pole  as  he  was 
the  head  chief  of  the  tribe. 


133 


3Totig 


We  proceeded  on  our  voyage  and  arrived  at 
a  short  carrying  place,  called  Portage  la  Rame, 
where  we  encamped  for  nine  days,  being  wind 
bound.  Here  we  found  a  number  of  Indians 
in  the  same  situation. 

As  soon  as  Lake  Superior  was  passable  with 
safety  we  continued  our  journey  through 
strong  and  dangerous  rapids,  which  kept  us 
continually  in  the  water  and  very  sensibly 
affected  our  limbs.  On  these  occasions,  where 
great  exertion  is  necessary,  all  distinction  is 
laid  aside  and  it  is  tel  maitre  tel  valet;  the 
bourgeois  must  work  as  hard  as  the  engages, 
to  encourage  them  to  do  their  duty  with 
more  alacrity,  and  avoid  all  cause  of  com¬ 
plaint. 

The  wind  proving  favorable,  we  proceeded 
to  Cranberry  Lake,  so  called  from  the  great 
quantity  of  cranberries  growing  in  the  swamps. 
We  stopped  here  two  days  to  refresh  ourselves 
after  the  great  fatigue  we  had  undergone  in 
struggling  against  the  rapids.  Being  suffi¬ 
ciently  recovered  and  having  nothing  to  de¬ 
tain  us,  we  proceeded  to  a  short  carrying 
place  called  la  Grande  Cote  de  la  Roche  at  the 
entrance  of  the  Nipigon  River,  which  is  a  high 
ridge  of  rocks  that  must  be  passed  to  avoid 
the  great  cataract  which  I  mentioned  in  my 
former  voyage.  At  this  time  we  had  very 
little  animal  food,  but  fortunately  killed  three 
large  bears  in  the  middle  of  the  portage,  which 
supported  us  several  days,  besides  which  we 


134 


19opagc£  antJ  Cratoelg 


reserved  some  of  the  meat  we  had  smoked 
and  dried  to  carry  with  us. 

From  la  grande  Cote  de  la  Roche  we  pro¬ 
ceeded  to  Lac  le  Nid  au  Corbeau,  or  Crow’s- 
nest  Lake,  which  is  about  200  miles  in  cir¬ 
cumference  and  supplied  by  a  number  of 
small  rivers.  There  are  also  several  islands  on 
it  which  furnish  the  Indians  with  great  plenty 
of  wild  fowl.  Bears  are  also  found  here  in 
abundance,  and  a  surprising  number  of  beaver 
dams,  running  in  a  crooked  direction  about 
ten  miles.  The  Chippewas  hunt  here  and  find 
a  great  deal  of  game. 

The  reader  will  observe  that  in  the  first 
voyage  I  gave  an  account  of  another  Crow’s- 
nest  Lake,  which  is  very  small,  with  an  island 
in  the  middle  with  high  palm  trees.  In  such  an 
extent  of  country  it  is  not  surprising  that 
there  should  be  two  places  of  the  same  name. 

During  our  stay  a  band  of  Indians  arrived 
from  Lake  Arbitibis,  who  probably  were  dis¬ 
satisfied  with  the  trader  they  dealt  with  and 
intended  to  go  to  Michilimackinac,  but  finding 
that  I  understood  their  language  they  bartered 
with  me  and  made  me  a  present  of  meat  and 
fish.  An  accident  happened  here  which  had 
nearly  proved  fatal,  and  which  was  of  infinite 
service  to  me  ever  after,  by  putting  me  more 
on  my  guard  in  all  transactions  with  the 
savages. 

Some  of  the  chiefs  being  desirous  of  seeing 
my  Northwest  guns,  I  was  obliged  to  open  a 


13s 


^ofjtt  Hong 


case  for  their  inspection.  This  I  did  unwilling¬ 
ly,  as  the  weather  was  fine  and  I  was  extremely 
anxious  to  get  to  the  wintering  ground  before  a 
heavy  fall  of  snow.  Having  shown  them  the 
guns,  they  loaded  four  and  laid  them  down 
by  the  cases,  intending  to  try  them.  During 
the  time  they  were  thus  employed  I  was  busy 
in  arranging  the  goods  that  had  been  dis¬ 
placed  in  getting  at  them,  but  as  soon  as  I  was 
at  leisure  I  took, up  one  of  the  guns  in  a  care¬ 
less  manner,  not  knowing  it  was  charged,  and 
snapped  the  lock,  which  most  unfortunately 
shot  off  the  ear  of  one  of  the  chiefs,  and  I  also 
received  some  injury  by  the  powder  flying  in 
my  face  and  almost  depriving  me  of  sight. 
The  discharge  was  so  instantaneous  and  ap¬ 
peared  so  premeditated  that  the  chief  re¬ 
proached  me  in  very  severe  terms  for  the 
injury  I  had  done  him,  and  threatened  revenge; 
however,  I  soon  convinced  him  it  was  an 
accident,  and  giving  him  some  presents,  he 
consoled  himself  for  the  loss  of  his  ear,  which 
was  very  large  and  handsome  and  without  a 
single  break,  which  made  it  very  valuable  in 
his  estimation.  It  was  fortunate  I  did  not  kill 
him,  as  in  all  probability  we  should  have  been 
sacrificed  to  the  resentment  of  the  band. 

The  Indians  pride  themselves  on  having 
large  ears,  and  extended  as  wide  as  possible, 
which  renders  them  liable  to  be  pulled  off. 
It  is  very  common  in  drunken  frolics  to  lose 
them,  but  when  they  are  only  torn  they  cut 
136 


t£>opage£  aitb  €rabd£ 


them  smooth  with  a  knife  and  sew  the  parts 
together  with  a  needle  and  deer’s  sinews,  and 
after  sweating  in  a  stove  resume  their  usual 
cheerfulness. 

The  next  day  we  took  our  leave  and  pur¬ 
sued  our  journey  to  Shecarke  Sakiegan,  or 
the  Skunk’s  Lake,  which  runs  with  a  strong 
current.  In  the  fall  it  abounds,  with  geese  and 
ducks.  Here  we  hunted  one  day  and  with  good 
success.  The  next  morning  at  break  of  day  we 
embarked  and  had  favorable  weather  till  we 
arrived  at  Lake  Schabeechevan,  or  the  Weed 
Lake.  This  lake  is  about  180  miles  in  circum¬ 
ference  and  full  of  small  islands.  It  abounds 
with  fish,  and  the  swamps  are  full  of  wild  rice 
and  cranberries.  It  is  about  six  days’  march 
from  Lac  la  Mort. 

This  lake  was  an  unfortunate  situation  to 
my  employers  last  year,  when  one  of  their 
servants,  Jacques  Santeron,  went  off  with  a 
valuable  cargo.38  On  my  arrival  I  looked  out 
for  the  house  he  had  erected,  but  could  not 
discern  the  least  trace  of  it.  Probably  he  was 
so  elated  that  he  made  a  feu  de  joie  on  the 
prospect  of  being  his  own  master.  At  the 
extremity  of  this  lake  is  a  fall  of  water,  which 
runs  from  a  river  of  the  same  name,  and  has  a 
direct  communication  with  the  waters  leading 
from  Fort  Albany,39  within  the  boundaries  of 

38  See  ante,  p  119. 

39  This  fort,  built  by  the  Hudson’s  Bay  Company, 
stood  at  the  mouth  of  Albany  River,  on  the  shore  of 

i37 


^To^n  Hong 


the  Hudson’s  Bay  [Company]  territories.  It 
is  about  thirty  days’  march  across  nineteen 
portages  and  creeks,  besides  fourteen  rapids, 
which  are  a  great  hindrance  to  the  journey. 
The  Indians  run  down  the  strong  currents 
without  the  least  fear,  and  seldom  meet  with 
any  accident,  performing  the  voyage  in  one- 
third  part  of  the  time  they  take  in  ascending, 
and  without  any  damage  to  their  canoes, 
which  in  going  against  the  stream  are  fre¬ 
quently  rendered  useless  and  they  are  obliged 
to  make  new  ones  before  they  can  pursue  their 
voyage;  but  it  is  a  most  convenient  circum¬ 
stance  that  they  are  nowhere  at  a  loss  for 
birch  bark,  and  being  also  very  expert,  they 
will  make  a  canoe  in  three  days  sufficiently 
large  to  carry  three  people,  with  necessaries 
for  their  support  and  room  to  stow  their  furs 
and  skins.40  On  this  lake  there  are  about  150 
good  hunters,  who  make  a  great  many  packs 
of  beaver,  etc.,  and  this  was  one  inducement 
for  settling  here,  which  was  increased  by  the 
prospect  of  a  plentiful  supply  of  fish,  rice, 
and  cranberries,  which  are  winter  comforts  of 
too  great  consequence  to  be  slighted. 

James  Bay.  In  1686  it  was  captured  by  a  French  raid¬ 
ing  party  from  Montreal  and  held  for  seven  years, 
when  it  again  passed  into  English  possession.  This  was 
the  affair  alluded  to  by  Alexander  Henry,  Travels  and 
Adventures,  p  238. 

40  A  description  of  the  Indian  method  of  making  bark 
canoes  is  given  by  Henry,  p  172. 

x38  , 


Bopageg  ant*  €rabd£ 


Having  secured  the  canoes  and  refreshed 
my  men  with  good  soup,  I  left  them  in  charge 
of  the  goods  and  took  two  Indians  to  show  me 
a  convenient  place  to  build  a  house,  which 
having  fixed  on,  a  building  was  erected  fifty 
feet  long  and  twenty  feet  wide,  divided  into 
two  separate  apartments,  one  for  merchandise 
and  the  other  for  common  use.  The  rum  being 
concealed  in  the  woods  and  everything  prop¬ 
erly  arranged,  we  put  the  fishing  tackle  in 
order;  and  as  the  lakes  began  to  freeze  very 
fast  I  divided  my  men  into  two  parties,  one- 
half  to  be  employed  in  fishing,  the  remainder 
(except  one  man  whom  I  always  kept  in  the 
house)  in  providing  fuel  for  winter.  In  about 
three  weeks  a  sufficient  quantity  of  wood  was 
piled  near  the  house,  and  the  wood-cutters 
joined  the  fishing  party.  They  proved  very 
successful,  so  that  our  injnds  were  more  at 
ease  than  in  the  preceding  year,  not  having 
the  dread  of  famine. 

In  about  ten  days  a  numerous  band  of 
Indians  arrived  with  their  fall  hunt,  none  of 
whom  I  had  ever  seen,  not  having  wintered 
so  far  inland  before.  They  seemed  well  pleased 
to  find  a  trader  settled  among  them,  and 
particularly  as  I  spoke  the  language;  but 
when  I  informed  them  that  I  was  a  brother 
warrior  and  showed  the  marks  of  adoption 
in  my  flesh  they  were  highly  delighted.  The 
women  were  immediately  ordered  to  make  up 
huts  and  prepare  a  feast.  Whilst  this  was  doing 


139 


Hong 


the  Indians  came  into  my  house,  one  by  one, 
and  seating  themselves  on  the  floor  began  to 
smoke  and  looked  very  cheerful.  When  I  had 
given  them  tobacco  and  other  Indian  goods 
the  old  chief,  whose  name  was  Mattoyash,  or 
the  Earth,  took  me  round  the  neck  and  kissed 
my  cheek,  then  addressed  me  in  the  following 
words : 

“  Meegwoitch  Kitchee  Mannito,  kaygait  kee 
zargetoone  an  Nishinnorbay  nogome,  shashyyar 
payshik  artawway  winnin  tercushenan,  cawween 
kitchee  morgussey,  an  Nishinnorbay  nogome 
cawwicker  indenendum.  Kaygait  kitchee  mush- 
kowway  geosay  haguarmissey  waybenan  matchee 
oathty  nee  zargetoone  Saggonash  artawway; 
winnin  kaygait  hapadgey  kitchee  morgussey  an 
Nishinnorbay;  kaygwotch  annahoycassey  neener- 
wind  mornooch  towwarch  nee  zargey  debwoye 
kee  appay  omar,  cuppar  bebone  nepewar  appim- 
iniqui  omar.” — “I  thank  the  Master  of  Life 
for  loving  us  Indians  and  sending  us  this  day 
an  English  trader,  who  will  open  his  heart  to 
me  and  my  young  men.  Take  courage,  young 
men,  suffer  not  your  hearts  to  be  bound  up, 
and  throw  away  the  bad  spirit  from  you.  We 
all  love  the  English  traders  for  we  have  heard 
of  their  pity  to  savages;  we  believe  that  they 
have  an  open  heart,  that  their  veins  run  clear 
like  the  sea.  It  is  true  we  Indians  have  but 
little  sense  when  drunk,  but  we  hope  you  will 
not  think  of  this,  and  if  you  will  stay  with  us 
we  will  hunt  with  spirit  for  you.” 

140 


t£opage£  mils  Crabcfe 


When  he  had  finished  his  speech  they  all 
got  up  and  taking  me  by  the  right  hand  con¬ 
ducted  me  to  their  hut.  Immediately  on 
entering  one  of  the  warriors  placed  me  on  a 
large  beaver  robe  which  was  prepared  for  me, 
and  put  a  wampum  belt  round  my  neck,  sing¬ 
ing  all  the  time  to  the  Master  of  Life,  while 
myself  and  the  chief  were  eating.  When  the 
feast  was  over  I  took  two  of  the  Indians  to 
my  house  and  gave  them  two  kegs  of  rum  and 
ten  carrots  of  tobacco,  with  other  articles, 
for  which  they  gave  me  all  their  peltry.  Then 
they  began  to  frolic,  which  continued  three 
days  and  nights.  The  only  accident  which 
happened  was  to  a  little  child,  whose  back 
was  broken  by  the  mother.  When  they  had 
rested  a  day  after  intoxication  I  supplied  them 
with  plenty  of  ammunition  for  their  winter’s 
hunt  and  they  departed  perfectly  satisfied 
with  their  reception.  I  cannot  help  relating 
the  method  I  was  obliged  to  adopt  to  quiet 
an  old  Indian  woman,  who  was  more  trouble¬ 
some  than  the  rest,  and  continually  impor¬ 
tuned  me  for  liquor. 

I  infused  forty  drops  of  the  tincture  of 
cantharides  and  the  same  quantity  of  lau¬ 
danum  into  a  glass  of  rum,  and  when  she  came 
to  me  soliciting  very  earnestly  for  the  strong 
water,  I  gave  her  the  dose  which  was  prepared 
for  her.  She  drank  it  without  hesitation,  and 
being  already  much  intoxicated,  it  made  her 
stagger.  But  this  did  not  satisfy  her  and  she 


S^fjn  Hong 


still  asked  for  more.  I  then  repeated  the 
dose,  which  she  also  drank,  and  then  fell  on 
the  floor.  I  ordered  my  Canadian  to  carry 
her  out  of  the  house  and  lay  her  carefully  near 
her  own  wigwam,  where  she  remained  twelve 
hours  in  a  deep  sleep,  to  my  entire  satisfaction. 
I  have  always  found  laudanum  extremely  use¬ 
ful.  In  general  it  may  be  considered  an 
essential  article  in  the  commerce  with  the 
Indians,  as  it  proves  the  only  method  of  over¬ 
coming  their  intoxicated  senses  and  making 
the  life  of  a  trader  more  tolerable,  by  putting 
a  stop  to  their  impertinence. 

On  the  nineteenth  of  November  a  band  of 
about  forty  Indians  came  in  with  a  few  skins 
and  a  great  quantity  of  dried  meat,  with  some 
bear’s  grease,  which  I  purchased  for  a  little 
rum,  and  advised  them  to  carry  it  along  with 
them  off  the  ground.  They  complied  with  my 
wishes,  and  embarked  perfectly  sober. 

It  was  always  my  custom  to  endeavor  to 
persuade  them  to  take  away  the  rum,  though 
I  seldom  succeeded.  The  fatigue  of  watching 
them  when  the  liquor  begins  to  operate  is  in¬ 
conceivable,  besides  the  risk  of  our  lives  and 
property. 

After  their  departure  I  was  left  for  nearly  a 
month  with  only  one  man,  the  rest  being 
employed  in  fishing  and  watching  the  marten 
traps.  In  both  pursuits  they  were  successful, 
but  particularly  in  the  former,  having  brought 
home  near  eight  thousand  trout,  pike,  pickerel, 


142 


Bopageg  anti  €rafcd£ 


and  whitefish,  which  we  hung  up  as  usual  to 
freeze.  When  the  severe  weather  sets  in  every 
man  has  his  allowance  served  out  twice  a  day, 
and  this  rule  is  constantly  adhered  to  even 
though  the  stock  be  very  considerable. 

In  the  beginning  of  December  a  new- 
married  couple  arrived,  and  having  given 
them  a  little  rum,  they  got  very  merry;  and 
perceiving  the  woman  was  in  great  good 
humor,  I  desired  her  to  sing  a  love  song,  which 
she  consented  to  do  with  cheerfulness. 

THE  SONG 

“Debwoye,  nee  zargay  ween  aighter,  payshik 
oathty,  seizeebockquoit  shenargussey  me  tar- 
biscoach  nepeech  cassawicka  nepoo ,  moszack 
pemartus,  seizeebockquoit  meteek.” 

“It  is  true  I  love  him  only  whose  heart  is 
like  the  sweet  sap  that  runs  from  the  sugar 
tree,  and  is  brother  to  the  aspen  leaf  that  al¬ 
ways  lives  and  shivers.” 

I  thanked  her  for  her  song,  and  giving  the 
husband  a  bottle  of  scuttaywabo,41  left  them 
together  to  enjoy  their  hearts’  delight;  and  as 
there  was  not  sufficient  to  intoxicate  them,  I 
was  not  afraid  of  a  jealous  fit.  I  always  bore 
in  mind  the  circumstance  at  Lac  la  Mort,  and 
my  fortunate  escape.  In  the  morning  they 
departed,  paying  me  well  for  my  presents 
with  some  beaver,  bear,  and  otter  skins. 

A  few  days  after,  an  Indian  arrived  with 

41  The  Chippewa  word  for  rum,  or  brandy. 


i43 


^ofm  Hong 


his  two  wives  and  three  children.  They 
immediately  came  into  my  house  and  sat 
down  by  the  fire.  I  thought  I  discovered 
deceit  in  his  countenance,  and  watched  him 
very  narrowly.  I  asked  him  what  success  he 
had  met  with  in  his  hunt.  He  told  me  he 
believed  the  Master  of  Life  was  angry  with 
him,  for  he  had  fired  at  several  animals  and 
expended  all  his  ammunition  without  doing 
execution.  This  was  a  figurative  mode  of 
expression,  and  convinced  me  that  he  was 
lazy  and  could  not  get  credit  for  what  he 
wanted.  He  added  that  his  family  had  been 
without  provisions  some  days,  and  hoped  I 
would  cheer  their  hearts  and  be  a  friend  to 
them.  I  then  ordered  a  large  kettle  to  be  put 
on  the  fire  and  boiled  some  fish,  which  they 
ate  of  very  heartily,  particularly  the  women 
and  children. 

I  questioned  him  concerning  his  hunting 
grounds.  He  told  me  he  was  from  Hudson 
Bay,  and  had  come  so  far  hearing  some  traders 
were  settled  at  Skunk’s  Lake,  and  as  he  knew 
there  were  plenty  of  animals  he  expected  to 
get  a  good  many  skins.  This  I  was  convinced 
was  false  and  I  immediately  considered  him  as 
a  straggler  or  he  certainly  would  not  have 
traveled  so  far,  unless  he  had  done  something 
to  displease  the  servants  at  the  Company’s 
forts  and  could  not  obtain  credit.  Looking  at 
me  very  earnestly,  he  asked  me  to  trust  him 
a  gun,  blanket,  and  ammunition,  but  I  re- 

144 


Bopage£  anb  €rabri£ 


fused  him.  This  displeased  him,  and  going 
out  of  the  house,  one  of  them  called  him,  the 
other  followed  him  out  and  said  something  to 
him  in  a  low  tone  of  voice.  This  appeared  to 
me  like  a  confederacy  and  put  me  on  my  guard. 
In  a  few  minutes  he  returned  and  renewed  his 
solicitations,  saying,  “Are  you  afraid  to  trust 
me  forty  skins?  I  will  pay  you  in  the  spring.” 
I  told  him  I  never  gave  credit  to  any  but  good 
hunters,  and  I  was  sure  he  was  an  idle  straggler, 
who  lived  without  industry,  and  advised  him 
to  return  to  his  own  tribe  and  solicit  their 
assistance  who  knew  him  better  than  I  did. 
So  severe  a  check  to  his  application  (and  which 
I  was  afterwards  sorry  for)  seemed  to  rouse  the 
bad  spirit  in  his  heart,  and  he  left  me  under 
the  influence  of  the  Matchee  Manitoo  and 
went  down  to  his  canoe,  seeming  to  be  in  deep 
discourse  with  his  wives. 

My  man  observing  them,  watched  them  very 
narrowly  and  saw  the  Indian  endeavoring  to 
file  off  the  end  of  his  gun  to  make  it  convenient 
to  conceal  under  his  blanket.  Having  short¬ 
ened  and  loaded  it,  he  returned  with  it  hid 
under  his  dress.  This  transaction  being  a 
convincing  proof  of  his  diabolical  intention,  I 
directed  my  man  to  stand  on  one  side  of  the 
door  and  I  took  my  post  on  the  other,  waiting 
his  entrance  into  the  house.  Just  as  he  passed 
the  threshold  I  knocked  him  down  with  a 
billet  of  wood,  and  taking  his  short  gun  from 
him,  beat  him  so  much  that  we  were  obliged  to 

i4S 


Hong 


carry  him  down  to  his  canoe,  where  his  family 
were  waiting  for  him,  and  ordered  them  all 
off  the  ground,  threatening  that  in  case  of 
refusal  his  canoe  should  be  instantly  broken 
to  pieces  and  his  family  turned  adrift.  The 
squaws  and  children  appeared  very  much  dis¬ 
tressed  and  with  great  reluctance  obeyed  my 
order.  Thus  I  got  rid  of  an  unprincipled  set, 
and,  as  will  soon  appear,  escaped  a  danger 
which  was  certainly  intended  to  involve  me 
and  my  men  in  utter  ruin. 

A  few  days  after  their  departure  an  Indian 
arrived  and  informed  me  that  Mr.  Joseph  La 
Forme,  a  brother  trader  who  was  settled  at 
Lac  le  Sel,  was  killed  by  a  savage,  and  de¬ 
scribed  his  person.  I  had  no  doubt  but  he  was 
the  same  man  who  [had]  attempted  to  destroy 
me.  I  communicated  every  circumstance  of  his 
conduct,  and  the  revenge  I  took  on  the  occa¬ 
sion.  The  Indian  congratulated  me  on  my  happy 
escape,  as  he  was  known  to  be  a  bad  man  by 
all  the  tribe,  having  killed  his  brother  and  one 
of  his  wives  last  fall,  which  was  the  reason 
that  the  band  he  belonged  to  would  not  suffer 
him  to  stay  among  them.  As  I  was  anxious  to 
know  the  particulars,  I  desired  him  to  relate 
them.  He  told  me  that  he  was  informed  by  a 
savage  whom  he  accidentally  met,  and  to 
whom  the  murderer  had  revealed  the  par¬ 
ticulars,  that  the  Indian  being  disappointed 
in  his  design  against  me,  pursued  his  journey 
with  the  bad  spirit  in  his  heart  and  arrived 
146 


anti  €rabd£ 


at  Joseph  La  Forme’s  house,  which  he  entered, 
and  asked  for  rum  and  tobacco,  which  was 
given  him;  but  observing  he  had  not  anything 
to  trade  with,  La  Forme  was  suspicious  of 
him.  Whilst  he  was  smoking  he  asked  for 
credit,  but  was  refused  and  told  that  he  was 
not  only  a  bad  hunter,  but  that  he  had  a  heart 
of  lead.  This  imprudent  reproach  incensed 
him,  and  observing  no  one  in  the  house  but  the 
trader  (the  men  being  fishing)  he  watched 
[for]  a  convenient  opportunity  and  when  La 
Forme  stooped  to  light  his  pipe,  shot  him 
through  the  head,  plundered  the  house  of  a 
few  things,  and  went  off. 

On  this  information  I  despatched  six  Indians 
with  a  trusty  Canadian  to  endeavor  to  secure 
the  property,  in  which  they  fortunately  suc¬ 
ceeded  and  brought  away  all  the  peltry,  mer¬ 
chandise,  etc.,  and  the  deceased  trader’s  men, 
whom  I  engaged  in  my  service.  About  six  weeks 
after,  one  of  the  tribe  whom  he  had  formerly 
offended  and  who  had  heard  of  this  recent  act 
of  villainy,  after  repeated  reproaches  for  his 
baseness,  tomahawked  him,  cut  off  his  head, 
and  brought  it  to  my  house  to  show  my  Indians. 

The  unhappy  fate  of  Joseph  La  Forme 
affords  a  melancholy  example  of  the  precarious 
situation  of  all  Indian  traders,  and  furnishes  a 
useful  lesson  of  instruction  to  those  who  may 
in  future  be  engaged  in  commerce  with  the 
savages — that  it  is  frequently  more  prudent 
to  conceal  resentment  than  to  gratify  it. 


147 


Chapter  12 


FAMINE  AND  CANNIBALISM;  OBSERVATIONS 

upon  the  Hudson’s  bay  company 

THE  latter  end  of  January,  1779  a  band 
of  the  Rat  nation  arrived,  belonging 
to  Shekarkistergoan,  or  the  Skunk’s- 
head  Lake,  which  is  between  Lake  Nipigon 
and  Lake  Manontoye.  They  brought  me  pro¬ 
visions  and  furs,  which  I  bartered  for,  giving 
them  rum  as  usual,  of  which  they  drank  freely 
without  doing  any  mischief.  After  their  de¬ 
parture  we  were  short  of  provisions,  having  a 
larger  household  to  provide  for,  by  taking  La 
Forme’s  men  into  my  service.  We  were  re¬ 
duced  to  a  few  fish  and  some  wild  rice,  or 
menomon  (which  are  kept  in  muccucks,  or 
bark  boxes)  to  support  myself  and  seventeen 
men,  the  allowance  to  each  being  only  a  hand¬ 
ful  of  rice  and  a  small  fish,  about  2-lb.  weight, 
which  is  boiled  together  and  makes  pleasant 
soup.  I  have  often  been  surprised  that  fish 
broth  is  not  more  generally  used,  as  it  is  cer¬ 
tainly  very  palatable;  but  I  am  not  sufficiently 
informed  in  medical  knowledge  to  speak  either 
of  its  wholesomeness  or  nutritive  qualities. 
Sturgeon  broth  is  delicious,  and  leaves  a 
pleasing  taste  on  the  tongue;  but  as  it  rather 
increases  the  appetite  for  food,  as  I  have 
148 


Bopageg  anti  €rafcd£ 


experienced,  it  should  not  be  taken  but  when 
there  is  plenty  of  meat  to  be  got.  This  fish 
is  very  common  in  Albany,  and  is  sold  at  i  d. 
per  lb.  York  currency.  The  flesh  is  called 
Albany  beef. 

The  frost  continuing  very  severe,  and  no 
appearance  of  Indians  to  supply  our  wants, 
we  were  obliged  to  take  off  the  hair  from  the 
bear  skins  and  roast  the  hide,  which  tastes 
like  pork.  This,  with  some  tripe  de  roche 
boiled,  was  all  our  nourishment. 

Tripe  de  roche,  or  hawercoon,  is  a  weed  that 
grows  to  the  rocks,  of  a  spongy  nature  and  very 
unwholesome,  causing  violent  pains  in  the 
bowels,  and  frequently  occasions  a  flux.  I  am 
informed  the  traders  in  the  Northwest  have 
often  experienced  this  disorder;  and  some  of 
them  in  very  severe  weather  have  been  com¬ 
pelled  to  eat  it  for  fourteen  days  successively, 
which  weakened  them  exceedingly.  When 
the  disorder  does  not  terminate  in  a  flux  it 
occasions  a  violent  vomiting,  and  sometimes 
spitting  of  the  blood,  with  acute  spasms  in  the 
bowels. 

After  suffering  great  hardships  I  advised 
my  men  to  make  marten  traps  and  set  them 
in  the  woods  as  they  did  last  winter  at  Lac  la 
Mort,  which  supplied  us  occasionally,  but  very 
short  of  our  real  wants.  At  last  a  band  of 
Indians  arrived  with  ten  sleigh-loads  of  meat 
and  furs,  which  relieved  us  and  gave  us  fresh 
spirits.  My  men  discovered  them  at  a  distance, 


149 


3*ong 


and  though  much  enfeebled  by  severe  hunger, 
put  on  their  snowshoes  to  meet  them. 

It  is  surprising  what  efforts  nature  makes  to 
support  distress,  and  how  cheerfully  she  strug¬ 
gles  when  the  prospect  of  relief  is  near  at  hand. 
Every  painful  recollection  of  past  sufferings 
quickly  vanishes  and  new  life  seems  to  breathe 
through  every  vein.  Those  who  live  in  con¬ 
stant  luxury  and  are  ignorant  of  the  meaning 
of  the  bread  of  carefulness  are  strangers  to 
the  joy  arising  from  an  unexpected  supply, 
and  sitting  down  to  a  table  in  the  wilderness. 
Hunger  needs  not  the  borrowed  aid  of 
sauce;  and,  in  the  language  of  Pope,  “To 
enjoy,  is  to  obey.” — Plow  delightful  is  such 
obedience! 

The  Indians,  seeing  our  distress  by  our  looks, 
which  were  very  meagre,  gave  us  all  their 
provisions,  consisting  of  bear,  raccoon,  and 
moose.  The  kettle  was  soon  put  on  the  fire 
and  we  made  a  comfortable  repast,  with  cheer¬ 
ful  hearts;  the  Indians,  during  the  time, 
enjoying  the  happiness  of  relieving  our  wants. 

Notwithstanding  the  cruelty  of  savages 
they  possess  virtues  which  do  honor  to  human 
nature,  and  exhibit  instances  of  generosity 
and  kindness  which  the  most  philanthropic 
soul  cannot  exceed.  They  are  ignorant  of  those 
mean,  sordid  sentiments  which  disgrace  many 
more  enlightened  and  more  wealthy;  and  from 
the  knowledge  I  have  of  their  disposition,  I 
am  sure  they  would  blush  at  the  parsimonious 


I£opa0e$f  anti  Crabds 


conduct  of  those  whom  Providence  hath 
blessed  with  affluence. 

After  the  repast  the  chief  (not  willing  to 
disturb  us  before)  asked  for  some  tobacco, 
and  having  smoked  some  time,  he.  said  he  had 
bad  news  to  tell  me,  which  some  Indians  had 
informed  him  of,  concerning  Mr.  Fulton,  then 
at  Shekarkistergoan,  and  which  he  was  sorry 
to  relate  as  it  affected  him  exceedingly.  I 
desired  him  to  finish  his  pipe  and  drink  a  glass 
of  rum  before  he  began  the  story;  and  at  the 
same  time  mentioned  my  surprise  at  not 
hearing  of  any  remarkable  circumstance,  hav¬ 
ing  traded  with  a  band  of  the  Rat  nation  within 
a  few  days,  who  came  from  that  lake.  He  told 
me  he  had  met  the  band  and  related  the  affair 
to  them,  who  were  much  astonished;  but  as 
Mr.  Fulton’s  men  were  not  returned  from  fish¬ 
ing  when  they  left  the  place,  the  transaction 
was  not  known  till  after  their  departure. 

Mr.  Fulton  being  obliged  to  divide  his  men 
into  two  parties,  which  is  called  the  cawway, 
or  casting  lots,  which  party  shhll  hunt  and 
fish  and  which  shall  stay  with  the  master, 
did  so  accordingly.  The  fishing  party  con¬ 
sisted  of  Charles  Janvier,  Francois  St.  Ange, 
and  Lewis  Dufresne,  all  natives  of  Canada, 
who  being  provided  with  axes,  ice-cutters, 
and  fishing  material,  set  off  and  at  the  expira¬ 
tion  of  eight  days  arrived  at  a  convenient 
place,  where  they  built  a  hut  in  which  they 
lived  for  some  time  tolerably  well;  but  fishing 


^Pofjn  Hong 


failing  them,  and  having  no  success  in  hunting, 
they  were  almost  starved.  In  this  situation, 
said  the  chief,  the  bad  spirit  had  entered  the 
heart  of  Janvier,  and  he  being  the  strongest 
man,  supported  hunger  better  than  his  com¬ 
panions,  by  which  he  was  enabled  soon  after 
to  effect  a  diabolical  purpose  he  had  formed  of 
killing  the  first  Indian  who  should  come  in 
his  way,  and  which  he  had  declared  he  would 
do.  In  the  height  of  their  distress  Janvier 
perceived  a  savage  at  some  distance  with  a 
load  at  his  back,  and  instantly  returning  to  the 
hut  told  his  poor,  dispirited  partners  of  their 
approaching  relief.  They  instantly  got  up, 
though  very  weak,  and  came  out  of  the  hut 
as  fast  as  their  feeble  limbs  would  allow  them. 
The  Indian  arrived,  took  off  his  load,  which 
was  only  two  otters  and  two  hares,  and  gave 
them  to  Janvier,  who  received  them  with  great 
satisfaction;  and  when  he  had  skinned  them, 
boiled  them  in  the  kettle  without  cleansing 
them,  so  extreme  was  their  hunger.  This 
seasonable  relief  was  soon  devoured,  and 
from  the  eagerness  with  which  Janvier  ate 
and  the  satisfaction  which  appeared  in  his 
countenance  when  he  looked  at  the  savage 
the  men  were  in  hopes  he  had  forgotten  the 
rash  determination  he  had  formed,  and 
flattered  themselves  his  mind  was  not  so  de¬ 
praved  as  to  entertain  a  thought  of  doing  an 
injury  to  the  man  whose  timely  assistance 
had  saved  their  lives.  The  next  morning 


152 


Bopageg  anti  €rabd£ 


the  Indian  told  them  he  was  sorry  he  could 
not  assist  them  further,  having  no  ammunition, 
but  that  he  was  going  to  Mr.  Fulton  for  a 
supply. 

Janvier’s  heart  being  inexorable  even  to  the 
kindness  he  had  received,  he  desired  the  savage 
to  assist  him  in  placing  a  large  log  of  wood 
on  the  fire,  as  his  companions  were  unable  to 
do  it.  The  Indian  cheerfully  complied,  and 
stooping  to  take  it  up,  Janvier  knocked  him 
down  with  an  axe  and  dragged  him  to  the  door 
of  the  hut,  cut  him  up,  and  with  the  most 
unfeeling  barbarity  put  as  much  of  the  flesh 
of  his  deliverer  into  the  kettle  as  he  thought 
sufficient  for  a  meal.42  When  it  was  dressed 
he  compelled  Francois  St.  Ange  and  Louis 
Dufresne  to  partake  of  it,  and  obliged  them  to 
kiss  the  cross  which  hung  at  his  breast  and 
swear  by  all  the  saints  never  to  reveal  the 
transaction:  threatening  at  the  same  time  that 
if  they  did  they  should  share  the  same  fate. 
Intimidated  by  his  threats  and  the  certainty 
that  he  would  fulfill  them,  they  solemnly 
promised  perfect  compliance  with  his  injunc¬ 
tions.  Having  overcome  their  first  aversion 
which  extreme  hunger  had  occasioned,  they 
ate  immoderately  of  the  horrid  meal  and  soon 
after  fell  sick  with  violent  retchings.  During 
their  indisposition  they  complained  to  each 
other  softly  that  it  was  eating  the  Indian’s 

42  For  similar  instances  of  cannibalism  in  the  Lake 
Superior  country,  see  Henry,  pp.  199-201  and  212-13. 

153 


Sof)n  5tong 


flesh  which  had  occasioned  their  sickness. 
Janvier,  overhearing  them,  called  them  fools 
and  rascals  and  asked  them  if  they  were  afraid 
the  savage  would  come  to  life  again;  and  with 
an  insolent  sneer  desired  them  to  tell  him 
which  they  thought  the  best  part  of  a  man. 
The  poor  fellows  only  replied  they  were  very 
sick  and  could  not  tell  the  cause.  In  a  few 
days  (having  no  other  provision)  the  Indian 
was  eaten  up,  and  Janvier  determined  to  have 
human  flesh  if  no  other  could  be  obtained.  To 
this  end  he  sought  an  opportunity  to  quarrel 
with  St.  Ange — Dufresne  not  daring  to  inter¬ 
fere  in  the  dispute.  Janvier  willing,  however, 
to  appear  as  plausible  in  the  eyes  of  Dufresne 
as  possible,  widened  the  breach  very  artfully, 
till  pretending  he  was  no  longer  able  to  con¬ 
tain  his  anger,  [he]  asked  Dufresne  if  he  did 
not  think  St.  Ange  deserved  the  Indian’s  fate 
for  daring  to  say  he  would  reveal  the  circum¬ 
stances  he  had  so  solemnly  sworn  to  conceal. 
Dufresne,  dreading  the  consequences  of  differ¬ 
ing  with  him  in  sentiment,  said  he  thought  St. 
Ange  was  to  blame;  upon  which  reply,  Janvier 
immediately  struck  him  with  an  axe  and  killed 
him.  He  then  cut  him  up  and  boiled  a  part, 
of  which  he  obliged  Dufresne  to  partake,  he 
not  daring  to  show  any  reluctance.  Fortunate¬ 
ly  for  Dufresne  the  weather  became  more 
moderate,  and  having  caught  plenty  of  fish, 
they  proposed  to  return  to  their  master. 
Janvier,  intoxicated  with  ideas  of  his  superior- 


154 


Bopageb  anil  Crabrib 


ity,  obliged  Dufresne  to  drag  him  in  an  Indian 
sleigh  to  Mr.  Fulton’s  house — a  cruel  imposi¬ 
tion  upon  him,  and  a  dreadful  service  to  a 
weak,  emaciated  man;  but  knowing  he  was 
unable  to  resist,  he  made  a  virtue  of  necessity 
and  obeyed  the  tyrant  with  seeming  cheerful¬ 
ness.  On  the  journey  he  was  frequently  re¬ 
minded  of  his  oath,  and  the  fatal  consequences 
that  would  attend  him  if  he  should  ever  divulge 
the  secret,  which  Janvier  assured  him  would 
produce  instant  death. 

Mr.  Fulton  was  much  rejoiced  at  their 
return,  being  in  want  of  his  men  as  the  Indians 
were  daily  coming  in  with  their  winter  hunt. 
Soon  after  their  arrival  he  made  inquiry  after 
St.  Ange,  but  no  answer  was  given.  He  then 
addressed  Janvier  directly  upon  the  subject, 
who  said  he  was  gone  on  the  hunt  with  a 
chief  of  the  name  of  Onnemay,  or  the  Sturgeon, 
whom  Mr.  Fulton  knew,  and  that  he  would 
soon  return.  One  of  the  Canadians  contra¬ 
dicted  him  by  saying  that  could  not  be  true, 
as  Onnemay  [had]  left  Mr.  Fulton’s  house 
the  day  before  their  return.  Janvier  then 
said  he  might  be  mistaken  in  the  chief’s 
name  as  he  was  not  well  acquainted  with  the 
Indian  language,  and  Dufresne,  for  fear  of  a 
discovery  at  that  time,  changed  the  conversa¬ 
tion  in  hopes  of  pleasing  Janvier. 

Several  days  elapsed,  and  St.  Ange  not 
returning,  Janvier  was  again  questioned,  who 
told  them  as  before  and  appealed  to  Dufresne 


Stoijn  Hong 


for  the  truth  of  his  assertion,  which  he  was 
obliged  to  confirm. 

Mr.  Fulton,  not  being  perfectly  satisfied, 
examined  them  apart;  from  Janvier  he  could 
not  get  any  information,  but  Dufresne  hesi¬ 
tated,  and  at  last  said  he  had  sworn  not  to 
reveal,  but  that  St.  Ange  would  never  return. 
Mr.  Fulton  endeavored  to  convince  him  that 
the  breach  of  an  oath  so  imposed  was  no  crime; 
and  in  the  end  he  convinced  the  Canadian  that 
it  was  so  far  from  being  obligatory  in  the 
sight  of  God,  that  it  would  be  a  sin  of  the  most 
heinous  nature  in  him  to  conceal  the  truth; 
artfully  adding  as  an  additional  argument  to 
induce  him  to  reveal  the  transaction  that  if 
he  had  no  doubt  he  was  himself  perfectly 
innocent  he  could  not  have  any  honest  motive 
for  secrecy,  and  that  he  had  no  occasion  to 
dread  the  resentment  of  Janvier,  as  he  would 
engage  to  protect  him  from  all  hazard  by  the 
discovery.  Thus  persuaded  and  encouraged, 
Dufresne  disclosed  the  whole  affair,  but 
requested  Mr.  Fulton’s  secrecy,  which  he 
promised  until  the  conversation  should  be 
renewed,  when  it  was  agreed  that  he  should 
relate  every  particular  in  Janvier’s  presence. 
Janvier  was  repeatedly  urged  by  the  rest 
of  the  men  to  give  them  some  information 
respecting  the  absence  of  St.  Ange,  but  he 
remained  obstinately  silent.  Some  of  them 
went  so  far  as  to  accuse  him  in  pretty  plain 
terms  of  knowing  too  much  about  him, 
156 


Bopageg  anti  €ratori£ 


but  he  treated  their  insinuations  with  in¬ 
difference. 

Mr.  Fulton,  having  disposed  of  all  his  goods, 
prepared  to  leave  his  wintering  ground,  and 
everything  being  properly  arranged,  they 
departed.  The  first  night  after  their  de¬ 
parture  Mr.  Fulton  loaded  a  brace  of  pistols, 
and  having  previously  acquainted  his  men  with 
the  discovery  Dufresne  had  made  and  the 
punishment  he  intended  for  the  villain,  came 
out  of  his  tent  and  stood  by  the  fire  round 
which  the  Canadians  were  seated.  The  con¬ 
versation  about  St.  Ange  being  purposely 
renewed,  Mr.  Fulton  remarked  it  was  cruel 
to  leave  him  in  the  woods  with  the  Indians, 
and  blamed  Janvier  particularly,  as  he  was 
the  foreman  of  the  party  and  therefore  the 
more  responsible.  Janvier,  nettled  at  the 
repetition  of  the  subject  (for  guilt  is  soon 
angry)  replied  that  St.  Ange  was  able  to  take 
care  of  himself,  and  that  he  had  not  any  con¬ 
trol  over  him.  Dufresne  was  then  censured, 
upon  which,  agreeably  to  the  plan  settled  with 
Mr.  Fulton,  he  divulged  the  whole  transaction 
and  gave  a  full  account  of  every  particular  of 
Janvier’s  conduct.  Janvier  attempted  to  take 
instant  revenge  for  the  aspersion,  as  he  called  it, 
and  denied  the  charge  with  the  most  hardened 
effrontery  and  solemn  asseveration.  Mr.  Ful¬ 
ton  then  thought  it  a  proper  time  to  interfere; 
and  to  cover  him,  if  possible,  with  confusion 
asked  him  “which  was  the  best  part  of  a  man.” 


iS7 


^Pofnt  Song 


Janvier  replied  with  ready  insolence  that  those 
who  had  eaten  human  flesh  could  easily  tell: 
but  being  repeatedly  urged  and  at  length  thrown 
off  his  guard,  he  replied  in  great  wrath  “the 
feet.”  The  party,  encouraged  by  this  confes¬ 
sion,  pressed  the  charge  till  at  last  he  confessed 
the  facts  he  was  accused  of,  and  declared  that 
in  a  similar  situation  he  would  kill  his  brother. 

Mr.  Fulton  could  no  longer  suppress  his 
resentment,  and  going  up  to  Janvier  told  him 
he  was  an  abandoned  villain,  first  for  killing  a 
harmless  Indian  who  had  generously  relieved 
his  wants,  and  afterwards  eating  him  like  a 
cannibal;  that  not  content  with  these  atrocious 
acts,  he  had  increased  his  guilt  by  another 
deliberate  murder  on  a  defenseless  man,  his 
companion,  his  fellow  laborer,  and  friend; 
that  he  was  a  disgrace  to  human  nature,  and 
ought  not  to  be  suffered  to  live  a  moment 
longer;  and  without  allowing  him  time  to 
reply,  shot  him  through  the  head.  The  men 
were  ordered  to  bury  him,  and  in  the  morning 
Mr.  Fulton  continued  his  journey  to  Michili- 
mackinac,  where  on  his  arrival  he  surrendered 
himself  to  the  commanding  officer,  who  on  a 
close  examination  of  the  men  honorably 
acquitted  him,  but  recommended  him  not  to 
venture  again  into  those  parts  where  the 
Indian  was  killed,  lest  the  savages  should  hear 
of  the  transaction  and  resent  the  death  of  one 
of  their  tribe,  whereby  the  innocent  might 
suffer  for  the  acts  of  the  guilty. 

158 


Bopage£  anti  €rafcd£ 


In  the  month  of  February,  I  had  a  visit 
from  a  trader  dressed  in  a  smoked-leather 
shirt,  who  was  accompanied  by  three  Indians 
and  had  been  absent  five  days  from  Fort 
Albany.  He  said  he  was  induced  to  come 
from  a  motive  of  curiosity  to  see  me,  not 
having  heard  of  any  person  wintering  so  far 
inland  before  except  the  servants  belonging 
to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  At  that  time 
I  had  very  little  provisions,  and  eight  men  to 
maintain,  besides  Mr.  Joseph  La  Forme’s 
Canadians.  Our  chief  food  was  tripe  de  roche. 
On  his  arrival  the  kettle  was  on  the  fire  with 
the  leaves.  He  asked  what  food  I  had.  I 
ordered  some  to  be  taken  out  of  the  pot  and 
put  into  a  bark  dish,  which  he  tasted  but  could 
not  swallow.  I  informed  him  it  had  been  a 
principal  part  of  our  diet  for  many  days,  and 
in  the  best  of  times  we  had  nothing  but  wild 
animal  food  and  seldom  any  flour,  as  the 
quantity  of  Indian  corn  we  were  able  to  bring 
along  with  us  from  Pays  Plat  was  not  sufficient 
to  last  the  winter.  When  I  had  given  him  a 
description  of  my  mode  of  living,  which  he 
confessed  was  very  different  from  the  comforts 
he  enjoyed,  I  took  him  into  my  store  and 
showed  him  the  packs  of  beavers  I  had  col¬ 
lected.  This  increased  his  surprise,  as  he  could 
not  conceive  how  it  was  possible  to  transport 
a  sufficient  quantity  of  goods  to  barter  for  the 
value  I  seemed  to  be  in  possession  of.  He  asked 
me  to  return  with  him  and  promised  to  supply 


159 


StoJjn  Song 


me  with  provisions;  but  I  told  him  I  was 
engaged  in  an  employ,  and  had  supported 
the  same  disagreeable  situation  the  preceding 
winter  at  Lac  la  Mort;  and  as  I  could  not 
expect  to  pass  my  life  among  the  Indians  with 
so  much  ease  as  in  England,  my  duty  obliged 
me  to  remain  till  the  season  was  over,  when  I 
should  return  and  endeavor  to  make  myself 
some  amends  for  the  hardships  I  had  endured 
by  giving  a  good  account  of  the  merchandise 
intrusted  to  my  care  and  receiving  a  reward 
for  my  labors.  In  the  morning  he  took  his 
leave,  wishing  me  the  speedy  arrival  of  some 
Indians  who  might  be  able  to  relieve  me  from 
such  pressing  necessity  by  supplying  me  with 
plenty  of  more  nourishing  and  palatable  food. 

This  civility  from  one  of  the  Hudson’s  Bay 
Company’s  servants  leads  me  to  make  some 
few  observations  in  vindication  of  that  respect¬ 
able  body,  whose  character  has  been  so 
severely,  and  I  think  so  unjustly,  censured. 

Mr.  Joseph  Robson,  one  of  the  Company’s 
servants,  who  resided  in  their  factory  six 
years  as  surveyor  and  supervisor  of  the  build¬ 
ings,  in  a  work  published  by  him  some  years 
since,43  animadverts  in  very  strong  terms  on 
the  mode  in  which  the  governors  of  forts 
exert  what  he  calls  their  uncontrollable  author¬ 
ity,  and  asserts  that  their  extreme  tyranny  is 
a  perpetual  source  of  personal  disgust.  He 

43  An  Account  of  Six  Years'  Residence  in  Hudson's 
Bay  (London,  1752). 

160 


Bopageg  attii  €ratod£ 


also  says  that  “the  overplus  trade  is  big  with 
iniquity,  and  no  less  inconsistent  with  the 
Company’s  true  interest  than  it  is  injurious  to 
the  natives,  who  by  means  of  it  are  become 
more  and  more  alienated,  and  are  either  dis¬ 
couraged  from  hunting  at  all  or  induced  to 
carry  all  their  furs  to  the  French.”  It  may 
be  necessary  here  to  observe  that  the  overplus 
trade  arises  from  the  peltry  which  the  Com¬ 
pany’s  servants  obtain  in  barter  with  the 
natives  beyond  the  ratio  stipulated  by  the 
Company,  and  which  belongs  to  themselves. 

This  is  a  heavy  charge  and,  if  true,  a  very 
proper  cause  of  complaint;  but  it  should  seem 
there  is  not  sufficient  ground  for  the  accusa¬ 
tion,  for  Mr.  Robson  afterwards  says  that 
this  overplus  trade  is  of  little  advantage  to 
them,  for  “that  part  of  it  they  always  add  to 
the  Company’s  stock  for  the  sake  of  enhancing 
the  merit  of  their  services,  and  apply  the 
remainder  to  their  own  use,  which  is  often 
expended  in  bribes  to  screen  their  faults  and 
continue  them  in  their  command.”  What  a 
strange  degree  of  folly,  as  well  as  of  guilt! 
That  the  governors  are  so  weak  and  so  wicked 
as  to  commit  enormities  only  to  make  a 
temporary  advantage,  and  are  obliged  to 
distribute  the  wages  of  iniquity  in  order  to 
screen  themselves  from  its  consequences 
among  the  Company,  and  their  confederates  in 
vice;  whereas  by  a  contrary  conduct  they  would 
be  equally  rich,  more  respected,  and  also  feel 
161 


Hong 


an  inward  satisfaction  of  mind  from  the  con¬ 
sciousness  of  having  discharged  their  trust 
with  integrity;  ideas  too  absurd  to  be  admitted. 
With  regard  to  the  Company,  it  cannot  be 
supposed  they  are  ignorant  of  this  “overplus 
trade,”  or  the  means  by  which  their  servants 
obtain  the  advantages  arising  from  it.  If 
they  are  not,  and  no  impartial  person  will 
suppose  they  are,  they  not  only  allow  but 
approve  of  the  conduct  of  their  governors, 
from  a  conviction  of  its  being  beneficial  to  the 
interests  of  the  Company;  a  proper  reward  for 
the  labors  of  their  servants,  or  from  some 
other  motive,  which  because  it  is  adopted  by 
men  so  respectable  and  so  much  above  re¬ 
proach  must  be  allowed  to  be  wise  and 
prudent. 

In  the  next  place  I  believe  it  will  be  very 
difficult  to  prove  that  the  conduct  of  the  gover¬ 
nors  has  “alienated  the  natives  from  the 
Company’s  interest,  and  discouraged  them  from 
hunting.”  The  former  is  by  no  means  clear, 
as  I  am  credibly  informed  the  new  Northwest 
Company,44  whose  trade  extends  to  the 
boundaries  of  the  settlements  of  the  Hudson’s 
Bay  Company,  find  very  little  encouragement 
from  the  Indians.  If,  therefore,  the  natives 
were  disgusted  they  would  embrace  the  first 

44  The  North  West  Company  was  established  in  1783 
by  a  temporary  association  of  Montreal  traders.  It 
carried  on  a  bitter  competition  with  the  Hudson’s  Bay 
Company  until  the  two  were  united  in  1821. 

162 


Bopngcg  anti  Srabcfe 


opportunity  of  showing  their  dislike  by 
carrying  their  peltry  to  new  traders.  Nothing 
can  be  more  natural  than  to  expect  that  this 
would  be  the  consequence;  but  as  they  have 
not  done  so,  the  inference  is  fair  that  they  are 
not  disgusted.  Another  observation  is,  “that 
the  cruel  and  oppressive  behavior  of  the 
governors  and  captains  towards  the  inferior 
servants  not  only  deters  useful  people  from 
engaging  in  the  Company’s  service  (a  cir¬ 
cumstance  they  should  attend  to  for  their 
own  interest)  but  furnishes  one  pretext  for 
the  bad  character  that  is  given  of  the  com¬ 
pany.” 

Though  in  the  particular  department  in 
which  I  have  been  many  years  engaged  as  an 
Indian  interpreter  and  trader  I  have  had  few 
opportunities  of  a  personal  and  intimate 
acquaintance  with  many  of  the  Company’s 
servants  (having  been  in  a  commerce  in  direct 
opposition  to  their  interest)  yet  I  can  speak 
with  confidence  in  regard  to  some  of  them 
whom  I  have  conversed  with;  that  in  every 
point  of  view  I  believe  them  to  be  useful  ser¬ 
vants,  and  well  skilled  in  the  language  of  the 
natives.  So  far,  in  answer  to  the  assertion 
“  that  useful  people  are  deterred  from  entering 
into  their  service.”  And  by  way  of  refuting 
the  charge  of  “cruelty  and  oppression,”  I  need 
only  add,  what  none  I  think  will  deny,  that 
they  have  been  so  well  satisfied  with  the  con¬ 
duct  of  their  superiors  that  many  of  them  have 
163 


Stofjn  Hong 


continued  in  the  service  more  than  twenty 
years. 

I  believe  upon  the  whole  it  will  appear  that 
the  conduct  of  the  governors  at  home  and 
abroad  is  perfectly  consistent  with  the  true 
interests  of  the  Company,  and  that  any  other 
mode  of  behavior  would  tend  to  anarchy  and 
confusion;  and  I  must  declare  for  my  own  part 
that  I  never  heard  of  that  personal  disgust 
which  Mr.  Robson  so  much  complains  of,  but 
have  rather  found  an  anxious  solicitude  to  be 
employed  in  their  service.  Mr.  Carver,  in  his 
history  of  North  America,  observes  that  on 
the  waters  which  fall  into  Lake  Winnepeek 
the  neighboring  nations  take  a  great  many 
furs.  Some  of  them  they  carry  to  the  Hudson’s 
Bay  Company’s  factories,  situated  at  the 
entrance  of  the  Bourbon  River,  but  this  they 
do  with  reluctance  on  several  accounts;  for 
some  of  the  Assinipoils  and  Killistinoe  Indians, 
who  usually  traded  with  the  Company’s  serv¬ 
ants,  told  him  that  if  they  could  be  sure  of  a 
constant  supply  of  goods  from  Michilimackinac 
they  would  not  trade  anywhere  else;  that  they 
showed  him  some  cloth  and  other  articles 
purchased  at  Hudson’s  Bay  with  which  they 
were  much  dissatisfied,  thinking  they  had  been 
greatly  imposed  on  in  the  barter. 

To  this  Mr.  Carver  adds,  “that  allowing 
their  accounts  true,  he  could  not  help  joining 
in  their  opinion,”  but  afterwards  he  admits 
“  that  this  dissatisfaction  might  probably  pro- 
164 


Bopage£  ant»  €rabd£ 


ceed  in  a  great  measure  from  the  intrigues  of 
the  Canadian  traders;  and  that  the  method 
they  took  to  withdraw  the  Indians  from  their 
attachment  to  the  Hudson’s  Bay  Company 
and  to  engage  their  good  opinion  in  behalf 
of  their  new  employers  was  by  depreciating 
on  all  occasions  th,e  Company’s  goods,  and 
magnifying  the  advantages  that  would  arise 
to  them  from  trafficing  entirely  with  the  Ca¬ 
nadian  traders.  In  this  they  too  well  succeeded; 
and  from  this,  doubtless,  did  the  dissatisfac¬ 
tion  which  the  Assinipoils  and  Killistinoes 
[felt]  proceed.”  “But,”  says  he  further, 
“another  reason  augmented  it,  the  length  of 
the  journey  to  the  Hudson’s  Bay  factories 
which  they  informed  him  took  up  three  months 
during  the  summer  heats  to  go  and  return,  and 
from  the  smallness  of  their  canoes  they  could 
not  carry  more  than  one-third  of  the  beaver 
they  killed,  so  that  it  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at  that  the  Indians  should  wish  to  have 
traders  come  to  reside  among  them.”  As  Mr. 
Carver  did  not  travel  in  the  interior  parts  as 
a  trader,  he  could  not  have  any  interested 
commercial  motives.  On  that  account  he  is 
certainly  entitled  to  credit  as  an  impartial 
observer.  The  public  will  judge  of  his  re¬ 
marks  and  how  far  they  tend  to  censure,  or 
approve,  the  conduct  of  the  Hudson’s  Bay 
Company. 

I  am  induced  to  indulge  this  digression  in 
consequence  of  a  new  publication  on  the 
165 


Hottg 


present  state  of  the  Hudson’s  Bay  by  Mr. 
Umfreville.45 

It  has  unfortunately  happened  that  the 
Company’s  enemies  have  been  frequently  of 
their  own  household,  persons  in  whom  they 
placed  confidence  and  entrusted  the  mysteries 
of  their  commerce.  Differences  will  naturally 
arise,  and  doubtless  have  arisen,  between  the 
governors  and  their  servants,  in  which  case 
no  man  is,  or  ought  to  be,  obliged  to  stay  in  a 
service  that  is  disagreeable  to  him;  but  then 
it  is  certainly  sufficient  to  leave  the  employ, 
and  highly  improper  to  endeavor  to  prejudice 
the  interest  he  once  thought  and  felt  it  his 
duty  to  promote;  and  I  am  of  opinion  that 
not  a  single  transaction  or  circumstance  should 
be  revealed  that  has  not  an  immediate  refer¬ 
ence  to  the  cause  of  the  disagreement,  or  is 
necessary  to  support  or  vindicate  a  reputation. 
The  present  governors  are  men  of  great 
probity  and  probably  may  not  condescend  to 
take  notice  of  these  heavy  charges  against 
them;  but  as  the  most  exalted  virtue  maybe 
injured  by  groundless  assertions,  I  trust  the 
public  will  not  be  displeased  with  my  endeav¬ 
ors,  however  feeble,  to  vindicate  the  character 
of  so  respectable  a  body.  As  I  do  not  intend 
to  enter  on  the  subject  more  fully  I  shall  only 
entreat  the  reader,  if  he  wishes  further  satis¬ 
faction  on  this  head,  to  peruse  the  publication 

46  Edward  Umfreville,  Present  State  of  Hudson’s 
Bay  (London,  1790). 


166 


t^opageg  and  €raiid£ 


of  Mr.  Robson,  who  was  one  of  the  Company’s 
servants  and  whom  Mr.  Umfreville  acknowl¬ 
edges  to  be  a  true  and  impartial  writer.  From 
his  account  the  reader  will  judge  of  the  pro¬ 
priety  of  Mr.  Umfreville’s  censures  on  the 
conduct  of  the  governors  of  the  Hudson’s 
Bay  Company.  A  more  copious  examination 
of  Mr.  Umfreville’s  publication  would  exceed 
the  limits  I  have  prescribed  to  myself;  and  I 
cannot  but  think  that  those  who  peruse  it  will 
readily  perceive  how  much  injustice  he  has 
done  to  the  governors  and  the  Company. 


167 


Chapter  13 


INDIAN  CUSTOMS  AND  BELIEFS;  RETURN 
TO  MACKINAC 

SOON  after  the  departure  of  the  trader, 
a  large  band,  consisting  of  about  ioo, 

,  came  in.  My  stock  of  rum  was  very 
small,  which  was  a  misfortune  as  rum  is  too 
important  in  treaties  with  the  Indians  to  be 
easily  dispensed  with.  On  their  arrival  they 
wished  to  drink,  but  I  continued  to  barter  for 
all  their  furs  before  I  gave  them  any  rum. 
Having  finished  the  business,  they  grew 
clamorous,  when  I  gave  them  as  much  rum 
as  I  could  spare,  upon  receipt  of  which  they 
embarked  in  tolerable  good  humor. 

In  the  month  of  April  the  last  band  came  , 
in  and  I  was  extremely  perplexed  how  to  act, 
having  a  very  small  portion  of  rum  and  no 
prospect  of  increasing  my  stock.  I  was,  there¬ 
fore,  obliged  to  dilute  it  so  as  to  make  it 
about  one-fifth  part  weaker  than  usual,  which 
made  twenty  gallons  of  very  passable  Indian 
rum.  Having  supplied  them  with  wearing 
apparel,  etc.,  and  received  their  peltry,  I  gave 
them  a  taste  of  the  scuttaywabo ,  and  just  before 
my  embarkation  made  the  following  speech: 

“  Haguarmissey  cockinnor  an  Nishinnorbay 
kee  wabindan  cawwickcar  nin  serpargussey  nee 
168 


Bopage£  anti  €rabd£ 


zargetoone,  keenerwind  kaygo  kee  cushkendum 
webatch  neenerwind  tercushenan  nepewar  anna- 
cotchigon  nin  ojey  petoone.  Wa  haguarmissey 
cockinnor  meenwendesay  bazam  Ebeckcheck 
megoyyack  debwoye  negee  kaygo  arwayyor 
matchee  oathy,  kee  cannawendan  cockinnor, 
mokoman,  baskeyzegan  goyer  becka,  kee  minni- 
quy  kaygo  arwayyor  annascartissey  woke,  mor- 
nooch  kee  permartissyan  cockinnor  an  nishin- 
norbay  no  gome  debwoye  negee  nepewar  artaw -• 
way  winnin  ojey  zargetoone  an  Nishinnorbay , 
keshpin  suggermarch  wennewar  metach  nin  ojey 
debar  chemon  kitchee  ojemaw  awassa  woity 
kitchee  wakaygan  Michilimackinac  metach  kay- 
goshish  ween  ojey  bockettywaun  keennerwind 
— -“Now  my  friends,  take  courage.  I  have  al¬ 
ways  shown  you  a  good  heart  and  you  all  know 
I  am  full  of  pity  for  you,  your  wives,  and 
children.  Therefore,  do  not  be  uneasy  or  think 
the  time  long  I  shall  be  absent  from  you.  I 
hope  the  Master  of  Life  will  give  me  courage 
and  strength  to  return  to  you  and  bring  you 
goods.  Now  as  you  know  I  have  no  sugar  on 
my  lips  nor  any  spear  at  my  tongue,  and  that 
my  ears  are  not  stopped  nor  my  heart  bound 
up,  I  hope  you  will  deliver  up  your  knives, 
guns,  and  tomahawks  and  have  no  bad  heart 
before  you  begin  to  drink,  so  that  on  my  return 
I  may  find  you  all  well.  I  shall  speak  with 
courage  to  the  great  English  chief  at  Michili¬ 
mackinac  and  he  will  open  his  heart  to  you.” 

Having  finished  my  speech,  the  weapons 
169 


Hottg 


were  collected  and  delivered  to  me.  I  then 
gave  them  a  considerable  quantity  of  rum, 
after  which  I  returned  their  knives,  etc.,  to 
convince  them  of  the  good  opinion  I  enter¬ 
tained  of  them,  and  that  I  had  no  doubt  but 
they  would  attend  to  the  advice  I  had  given 
them.  I  then  got  into  my  canoe,  and  waving 
my  hand,  was  saluted  by  a  discharge  of  200 
guns,  which  I  returned  by  one  volley,  and 
pursued  my  journey  in  good  spirits,  heartily 
pleased  at  leaving  my  winter  quarters. 

We  continued  our  voyage  without  meeting 
with  any  occurrence  worth  relating  till  we 
arrived  at  the  Skunk’s  River,  where  I  had 
unfortunately  shot  off  a  chief’s  ear,  as  I  have 
before  related.  Here  I  met  with  the  new- 
married  couple,  and  some  of  the  same  band  to 
whom  I  was  so  much  obliged  in  the  preceding 
December  for  singing  the  love  songs;  and  being 
desirous  of  obtaining  a  perfect  knowledge  of 
their  manners  and  customs,  I  made  many  in¬ 
quiries,  and  among  other  knowledge  gained 
information  of  the  Chippewa  form  of  court¬ 
ship,  which  I  presume  will  be  acceptable  to 
those  who  have  as  much  curiosity  as  myself. 

INDIAN  COURTSHIP 

When  an  Indian  wishes  to  take  a  wife,  and 
sees  one  to  his  mind,  he  applies  to  the  father 
of  the  girl  and  asks  his  consent  in  the  following 
words:  “ Nocey ,  dinner  kee  darmissey  kee  dar- 
niss  nee  zargayyar  kakaygo  O  waterwardoossin 


10opagc£  anti  €mbd£ 


cawween  peccan  weettey  gammat  ottertassey 
memarjis  mee  mor — “Father,  I  love  your 
daughter,  will  you  give  her  to  me,  that  the 
small  roots  of  her  heart  may  entangle  with 
mine,  so  that  the  strongest  wind  that  blows 
shall  never  separate  them.” 

If  the  father  approves,  an  interview  is 
appointed,  for  which  the  lover  prepares  by  a 
perspiration.  He  then  comes  into  her  presence, 
sits  down  on  the  ground,  and  smokes  his  pipe. 
During  the  time  of  smoking  he  keeps  throwing 
small  pieces  of  wood  of  about  an  inch  in  length 
at  her  one  by  one  to  the  number  of  one 
hundred.  As  many  as  she  can  catch  in  a  bark 
bowl,  so  many  presents  her  lover  must  make 
to  her  father,  which  he  considers  as  payment 
for  his  daughter.  The  young  warrior  then 
gives  a  feast  to  which  he  invites  all  the  family. 
When  the  feast  is  done  they  dance  and  sing 
their  war  songs.  The  merriment  being  over  and 
mutual  presents  exchanged  between  the  lover 
and  her  relations,  the  father  covers  them  with  a 
beaver  robe  and  gives  them,  likewise,  a  new  gun 
and  a  birch  canoe,  with  which  the  ceremony  ends. 

When  the  French  became  masters  of  Can¬ 
ada,  the  ceremony  of  marriage  between  the 
savages  was  very  fantastical. 

When  a  lover  wished  his  mistress  to  be  in¬ 
formed  of  his  affection  he  procured  an  inter¬ 
view  with  her,  which  was  always  at  night  and 
in  the  presence  of  some  of  her  friends.  This 
was  conducted  in  the  following  manner: 


Stofjn  Eottg 


He  entered  the  wigwam,  the  door  of  which 
was  commonly  a  skin,  and  went  up  to  the 
hearth  on  which  some  hot  coals  were  burning. 
He  then  lighted  a  stick  of  wood  and  approach¬ 
ing  his  mistress  pulled  her  three  times  by  the 
nose  to  awaken  her.  This  was  done  with 
decency  and,  being  the  custom,  the  squaw  did 
not  feel  alarmed  at  the  liberty.  This  ceremony, 
ridiculous  as  it  may  appear,  was  continued 
occasionally  for  two  months,  both  parties  be¬ 
having  during  the  time  in  all  other  respects 
with  the  greatest  circumspection. 

The  moment  she  becomes  a  wife  she  loses 
her  liberty  and  is  an  obsequious  slave  to  her 
husband,  who  never  loses  sight  of  his  prerog¬ 
ative.  Wherever  he  goes  she  must  follow,  and 
durst  not  venture  to  incense  him  by  a  refusal, 
knowing  that  if  she  neglects  him  extreme 
punishment,  if  not  death,  ensues.  The  chief 
liberty  he  allows  her  is  to  dance  and  sing  in  his 
company,  and  [he]  is  seldom  known  to  take 
any  more  notice  of  her  than  of  the  most  in¬ 
different  person,  while  she  is  obliged  to  perform 
the  drudgery  of  life,  which  custom  or  in¬ 
sensibility  enables  her  to  do  with  the  utmost 
cheerfulness. 

A  circumstance  of  this  kind  I  recollect 
reading  [of]  which  happened  at  Beaver  Creek, 
about  twenty-five  miles  from  Fort  Pitt.  An 
Indian  woman,  observing  some  white  men  to 
carry  firewood  on  their  shoulders,  took  up  her 
hatchet  and  brought  them  in  a  short  time  a 


172 


Bopagc£  anti  Cratorig 


great  burden  on  her  back;  and  throwing  it 
down  by  the  fire,  said  she  not  only  pitied  them, 
but  thought  it  was  a  great  scandal  to  see  men 
doing  that  which  was  properly  the  work  of 
women. 

The  men  consider  women  as  of  no  other 
use  but  to  produce  them  children  and  to  per¬ 
form  the  drudgeries  of  life;  as  to  the  offspring, 
he  prefers  the  sons  to  the  daughters  because  he 
expects  they  will  all  prove  warriors.  The 
daughters  they  do  not  value,  for  the  same 
reason  that  they  subjugate  their  wives,  deem¬ 
ing  them  worthy  only  to  wait  on  warriors 
and  do  those  things  which  would  disgrace  the 
male  sex. 

We  pursued  our  journey  to  Lac  le  Nid  au 
Corbeau,  where  we  killed  some  wild  geese 
and  ducks,  which  at  this  season  of  the  year 
have  a  fishy  taste.  Here  we  rested  two  days 
to  enable  us  to  pursue  the  remainder  of  our 
voyage  with  greater  vigor.  The  third  morning 
at  daybreak  we  embarked  and  arrived  at 
La  Grande  Cote  de  la  Roche,  where  we  were 
fortunate  enough  to  kill  two  bears,  which  eat 
remarkably  fine,  and  having  some  leisure  time 
to  spare  in  the  cookery,  we  enjoyed  them  with 
as  high  a  relish  as  in  better  situations  we  had 
done  more  luxuriant  meals. 

We  proceeded  to  Cranberry  Lake,  where  we 
caught  some  fish  and  picked  as  many  cran¬ 
berries  as  we  could  conveniently  carry.  From 
thence  we  continued  our  journey  to  Portage  la 


173 


5fof)n  Song 


Rame,  where  we  were  again  windbound  for 
some  days,  but  during  our  stay  we  had  not  a 
single  visitor  to  disturb  us.  At  length  the  wind 
proving  favorable,  we  proceeded  to  Riviere  la 
Pique.  On  my  arrival  I  was  immediately 
struck  with  the  remembrance  of  the  escape  I 
had  [had]  from  Payshik  Ogashey  last  year,  but 
my  mind  was  almost  as  instantly  relieved  by 
the  recollection  of  his  being  killed,  and  no 
longer  a  terror  to  traders. 

This  was  one  among  many  instances  in 
which  I  found  that  when  the  heart  is  oppressed 
with  unpleasant  recollections  or  forebodings 
the  Author  of  our  Being  conveys  relief  to  the 
mind  very  unexpectedly.  This  sudden  transi¬ 
tion  we  are  too  apt  to  impute  to  our  own 
wisdom,  and  to  attribute  the  escape  from 
dangers  we  have  experienced,  or  the  hopes  of 
deliverance  which  we  form,  entirely  to  our 
own  sagacity  and  foresight.  The  Indians,  on 
the  contrary,  think  more  properly.  They  say 
it  is  the  Master  of  Life  from  whom  we  derive 
that  presence  of  mind  which  has  extricated 
[us]  or  procured  us  relief.  To  the  Master  of 
Life  the  Indian  addresses  himself  even  for  his 
daily  support.  To  him  he  imputes  his  victories 
and  his  success;  and  when  subdued  and  fast¬ 
ened  to  the  stake  he  thanks  him  for  giving  him 
courage  to  open  his  veins.  It  is  this  confidence 
which  enables  him  to  bear  the  severest  tortures 
with  composure,  and  in  the  height  of  anguish 
to  defy  the  utmost  malice  of  his  enemies. 


174 


1£opage£  anti  €ratod£ 


Notwithstanding  the  Chippewas,  as  well  as 
the  greatest  part  of  the  Indian  nations  of 
North  America,  think  so  justly,  it  is  to  be 
lamented  that  it  is  not  universally  so.  The 
Mattaugwessawauks,  it  is  said,  do  not  worship 
a  Supreme  Being,  and  when  success  attends 
them  in  war  they  attribute  the  merit  of  the 
victory  to  their  own  valor  or  skill.  But  not¬ 
withstanding  their  disbelief  of  a  Master  of 
Life,  in  some  respects  they  are  not  less  super¬ 
stitious  than  other  savages,  for  they  think 
that  certain  places  are  haunted  by  evil  spirits, 
whose  power  they  dread,  and  impressed  with 
these  ideas  cautiously  avoid  them.  Another 
proof  of  their  superstition  is,  if  one  of  their 
people  is  killed  by  accident  they  preserve  a 
hand  or  a  foot,  which  they  salt  and  dry  and 
keep  as  a  charm  to  avert  calamities,  by  which 
it  appears  that  although  they  do  not  acknowl¬ 
edge  a  dependence  on  a  good  spirit,  they  enter¬ 
tain  fears  and  apprehensions  of  a  bad  one; 
which  induces  one  to  hope  that  such  a  devia¬ 
tion  from  the  common  belief  of  mankind  may 
never  be  confirmed,  as  it  would  stamp  human 
nature  with  an  odium  too  horrid  to  think  of. 
But  to  conclude  this  digression;  we  continued 
our  voyage  to  Pays  Plat,  where  we  stayed  some 
days  in  the  society  of  traders  who  had  also 
wintered  in  the  inlands,  and  others  who  arrived 
with  goods  to  supply  those  who  were  engaged 
to  return;  but  as  my  time  was  expired  I  re¬ 
turned  to  Michilimackinac.  After  waiting  on 


i7S 


SfoS)n  Hong 


the  commanding  officer  and  giving  an  account 
of  my  stewardship  to  my  employers,  I  retired 
to  Chippewa  Point,  a  spot  of  ground  out  of  the 
fort,  where  I  lived  with  an  Indian  family,  who 
occasionally  made  me  moccasins  and  other 
parts  of  Indian  dress. 


176 


Chapter  m 


AN  ESCAPADE  AT  MACKINAC,  AND  EXPEDITION 
TO  PRAIRIE  DU  CHIEN 

DURING  the  time  I  remained  at  Chip¬ 
pewa  Point  I  had  frequent  offers  from 
the  officers  to  sleep  at  their  quarters 
within  the  fort,  but  being  accustomed  to  he 
in  the  woods  I  generally  preferred  that  situa¬ 
tion.  A  circumstance  happened  soon  after 
my  arrival,  which  I  shall  relate. 

In  consequence  of  Indian  treachery  in  the 
year  1764  (when  the  savages  commanded  by 
Pontiac,  the  chief,  under  the  pretense  of  a 
game  at  ball,  formed  a  plan  to  destroy  the 
inhabitants  and  take  possession  of  the  fort, 
and  in  which  they  unfortunately  succeeded, 
to  the  extreme  mortification  of  the  English) 
there  was  a  standing  order  that  no  Indian 
should  be  permitted  to  enter  the  fort  with 
firearms,  nor  any  squaw  or  Indian  woman 
allowed  to  sleep  within  the  walls  of  the  gar¬ 
rison  on  any  pretense  whatever;  and  for  the 
better  security  of  the  inhabitants,  when  a 
council  is  held  with  the  chiefs  double  sentries 
are  always  placed. 

Having  a  strong  desire  to  introduce  a  great 
chief’s  daughter  and  her  sister  (notwithstand¬ 
ing  the  governor’s  orders)  I  communicated 


177 


^ofjn  Hong 


my  intentions  to  an  officer  and  desired  his 
assistance  to  complete  the  plan.  He  very 
politely  told  me  that  he  could  not  appear  to 
countenance  my  scheme,  but  would  give  me 
every  possible  assistance  consistent  with  his 
station.  I  assured  him  that  they  were  a  great 
chief’s  daughters,  and  that  I  would  be  answer- 
able  for  their  conduct. 

With  his  consent  I  applied  to  two  soldiers 
and  asked  them  if  they  could  spare  time  to 
roll  a  large  hogshead  of  bottled  porter  from 
Chippewa  Point  to  the  fort.  They  told  me 
[that]  whenever  it  suited  me  they  would  be 
ready  to  assist.  Having  purchased  the  hogs¬ 
head  and  got  it  rolled  down  the  hill  whilst 
the  officers  were  at  dinner,  I  told  the  squaws 
of  my  plan,  and  having  knocked  out  the  head 
and  bung  and  bored  several  holes  to  admit 
as  much  air  as  possible,  desired  them  to  get 
in,  which  with  some  difficulty  I  persuaded 
them  to  do.  I  then  replaced  the  head  and 
ran  immediately  to  the  soldiers  to  acquaint 
them  that  the  porter  was  ready,  and  desired 
their  assistance  without  delay,  as  I  was 
afraid  some  of  the  bottles  were  broken  and  it 
would  be  proper  to  examine  them  as  soon  as 
possible. 

The  soldiers  immediately  returned  with  me 
and  applying  their  shoulders  to  the  cask,  rolled 
it  up  the  hill  with  great  labor  and  fatigue, 
continually  observing  that  it  was  very  heavy. 
Just  as  they  arrived  at  the  gate  the  com- 
178 


Bopageg  anti  €ratod£ 


manding  officer  and  the  commissary  were 
coming  through,  and  seeing  the  hogshead, 
asked  the  soldiers  what  they  had  got  there. 
They  replied  it  was  bottled  porter  for  a  trader, 
who  had  desired  them  to  roll  it  from  the 
Point.  As  a  vessel  had  just  then  arrived  from 
the  Detroit,  the  commanding  officer  was  so 
satisfied  with  the  account  the  solders  gave 
that  he  observed  it  was  very  fortunate,  for 
they  now  should  have  plenty  of  good  beer  to 
drink.  The  soldiers  had  scarcely  rolled  another 
turn  when  unluckily  one  of  them  kicked  his 
foot  against  a  stone,  who  with  the  extreme  pain 
he  suffered  fell  down.  The  other,  not  being 
able  to  sustain  the  whole  weight,  let  go  his 
hold  and  the  hogshead  rolled  down  the  hill 
with  great  velocity.  Just  as  it  came  to  the 
bottom  the  head  fell  out  and  the  squaws 
exhibited  the  deception.  Unfortunately,  the 
commanding  officer  was  near  at  hand  when 
the  accident  happened,  and  though  it  was, 
a  manifest  breach  of  his  orders  he  could  not 
help  smiling  at  the  conceit,  and  looking 
at  the  imprisoned  females,  said  to  them, 
“Pretty  bottled  porter  indeed!”  The  squaws 
were  so  confused  that  they  ran  with  the 
utmost  precipitation  into  the  woods  and 
did  not  make  their  appearance  for  several 
days. 

On  the  commanding  officer’s  return  to  the 
fort  inquiry  was  made  for  me  and  I  was 
under  the  necessity  of  obeying  his  summons, 


179 


Hong 


although  I  confess  my  situation  was  very  un¬ 
pleasant.  As  soon  as  I  came  into  his  presence, 
assuming  a  look  of  displeasure  he  asked  me 
how  I  could  dare  to  disobey  the  orders  of  the 
garrison,  which  I  knew  were  issued  to  prevent 
the  most  serious  consequences;  that  I  was  more 
culpable  than  another  person,  knowing  the 
nature  and  disposition  of  the  Indian  women 
and  the  impropriety  and  danger  of  confiding 
in  them;  adding  that  for  the  sake  of  example, 
and  to  prevent  others  from  acting  so  im¬ 
prudently,  he  believed  he  should  send  me  down 
to  Montreal  in  irons. 

Alarmed  at  my  situation,  I  made  the  best 
apology  in  my  power  and  assured  him  I  was 
extremely  sorry  for  my  conduct,  but  hoped 
he  would  pardon  it.  This  acknowledgment  of 
the  offense  induced  him  to  forgive  me,  and  as 
he  said  he  considered  it  a  frolic  of  youth  he 
would  pass  it  over,  but  cautioned  me  against 
playing  such  tricks  again.  I  felt  myself  ex¬ 
tremely  obliged  by  his  lenity  and  promised  to 
conduct  myself  with  more  propriety  in  future, 
which  promise  I  faithfully  kept;  for  though  the 
experiment  to  admit  the  squaws  would  not 
have  been  attended  with  any  bad  consequences 
I  did  not  choose  again  to  risk  the  commanding 
officer’s  displeasure. 

On  the  eleventh  of  August  the  traders 
arrived  from  the  Mississippi  and  brought  an 
account  of  an  extraordinary  escape  which  a 
Mr.  Ramsay  and  his  brother  had  [had]  from  a 
180 


Bopage£  ants  €ratori£ 


tribe  of  the  nation  of  the  Poes  in  their  way  to 
St.  Joseph.46 

The  Poes  are  a  very  wild,  savage  people, 
have  an  aversion  to  Englishmen,  and  generally 
give  them  as  much  trouble  as  possible  in  pass¬ 
ing  or  repassing  the  Fort  of  St.  Joseph’s, 
where  some  French  traders  are  settled  by  their 
permission. 

It  seems  the  Canadians  were  invited  by  the 
savages  to  land,  and  Mr.  Ramsay,  supposing 
they  had  some  furs  to  dispose  of,  ordered  his 
men  to  go  on  shore;  when  standing  up  in  his 
canoe  just  before  his  debarkation,  three  of  the 
warriors  waded  through  the  water  neck-high, 
dragged  him  out  of  his  canoe,  and  carried 
him  on  shore.  Mr.  Ramsay’s  men  immediately 
landed  and  were  preparing  to  follow  their 
master,  but  observing  eleven  Indians  near  at 
hand  and  perceiving  the  bad  intention  of  the 
chiefs,  got  again  into  their  canoes,  leaving  the 
one  in  which  Mr.  Ramsay  and  his  son  were  on 
the  beach,  and  paddled  to  an  adjacent  island, 
waiting  the  event  of  a  circumstance  which 
threatened  death  to  their  masters. 

Mr.  Ramsay  being  tied  to  the  stump  of  a 
tree,  and  his  son  narrowly  watched,  the 
Indians  rummaged  the  canoe  and  brought  up 
as  much  rum  as  they  thought  they  could 

46 The  “Poes”  were  the  Potawatomi  tribe,  which  has 
played  so  large  a  role  in  the  pioneer  history  of  the  Old 
Northwest.  Fort  St.  Joseph  was  in  the  outskirts  of 
modern  Niles,  Michigan. 

181 


-John  Hong 


drink.  They  then  began  to  sing  their  war 
songs,  and  making  a  large  fire  near  the  stump 
to  which  Mr.  Ramsay  was  tied,  they  sat  down 
on  the  ground  and  began  to  insult  him,  telling 
him  he  was  an  old  woman,  and  obliged  his 
brother  to  join  in  the  derision. 

The  usual  mode  of  execution  among  the 
savages  is  as  follows: 

When  a  warrior  is  taken,  he  is  brought  into 
a  hut  and  tied  with  small  cords  made  of  the 
bark  of  trees,  about  the  size  of  a  cod-line.  He 
is  then  fastened  to  a  stump  and  a  small  rattle 
put  into  his  hand,  called  chessaquoy,  which  he 
shakes  while  he  sings  the  dead  war  song: 

“  Wabindan  payshik  shenagonish  kitchee  Man- 
nitoo;  nee  wee  waybenan  neeyoe  Matchee 
Mannitoo .” 

“Master  of  Life,  view  me  well  as  a  warrior; 
I  have  thrown  away  my  body  against  the  bad 
spirit.” 

When  the  song  is  finished  the  prisoner  is 
untied  and  made  to  run  the  gauntlet  through 
two  ranks  of  women,  who  are  provided  with 
small  sticks  to  beat  him.  After  this  punish¬ 
ment  a  dog-feast  is  prepared  with  bear’s 
grease  and  huckleberries,  of  which  he  is  obliged 
to  eat.  He  is  then  brought  again  to  the  stake, 
when  wood  is  placed  round  him.  He  now  sings 
his  war  song  and  the  women  set  fire  to  the  pile, 
the  prisoner  singing  as  it  burns.  The  bones  are 
then  collected  and  fixed  to  the  war-standard, 
which  is  a  high  pole  painted  with  vermilion. 

182 


BopngcS  an&  Crab  els 


It  is  said  that  the  nation  of  the  Followens, 
or  Wild  Oats,47  kill  their  wives  and  children 
before  they  go  to  battle,  that  in  case  of  a  defeat 
the  enemy  shall  not  have  any  prisoners  of  their 
nation. 

The  Poes,  beginning  to  feel  the  effects  of  the 
rum,  examined  the  cords,  which  were  made  of 
the  bark  of  the  willow-tree,  and  ordered  some 
wood  to  be  put  round  the  stump,  to  be  ready 
when  they  should  find  themselves  disposed  to 
burn  him.  Soon  after  they  untied  him  and 
brought  him  to  the  war-kettle  to  make  his  death- 
feast,  which  consisted  of  dog,  tiger-cat,  and 
bear’s  grease  mixed  with  wild  oats,  of  which  he 
was  compelled  to  eat.  Mr.  Ramsay,  knowing 
the  nature  of  Indians,  complied  with  seeming 
cheerfulness  and  said  he  was  satisfied.  He  was 
taken  back  to  the  intended  place  of  execution 
and  tied  again  to  the  stump,  from  which  with 
great  composure  he  desired  permission  to  make 
his  speech  before  he  changed  his  climate,  which 
being  granted,  he  immediately  spoke  to  them 
to  the  following  effect: 

“It  is  true  the  Master  of  Life  has  sent  me 
here  to  those  Indians  whose  hearts  are  full  of 
poisoned  blood,  and  as  they  mean  me  to 
change  my  climate  I  shall  go  with  courage  to  a 
better  trading-ground,  where  I  shall  find  good 
Indians.  They  have  always  known  me  to 
have  had  pity  on  them,  their  wives,  and 

47The  Menominee  tribe,  whose  home  was  in  the 
vicinity  of  Green  Bay. 


183 


^ofm  Hong 


children  since  I  have  been  a  trader,  and  to 
have  opened  my  heart  to  them  on  all  occasions; 
but  now  the  bad  spirit  has  joined  his  heart 
with  theirs  to  make  me  change  my  climate, 
which  I  am  glad  of  for  I  am  better  known  in 
the  country  I  am  going  to,  and  by  greater 
warriors  than  ever  these  were.  I  now  look  on 
all  the  chiefs  as  old  women;  and  as  I  am  the 
Peshshekey  (or  buffalo)  I  shall  drink  my  last 
with  them,  and  carry  the  news  to  the  warriors 
in  the  other  climate.” 

Having  attentively  heard  his  speech,  they 
prepared  for  his  death;  which  he  perceiving, 
immediately  told  his  brother  not  to  be  dis¬ 
heartened  as  he  had  hopes  of  overcoming  their 
fury,  and  desired  him  to  ply  them  with  rum 
and  keep  their  kettles  constantly  filled.  His 
brother  followed  the  instructions  he  gave  him, 
and  distributed  the  rum  among  them  very 
plentifully.  When  Mr.  Ramsay  discovered 
that  they  were  sufficiently  intoxicated  to  be 
incapable  of  doing  mischief,  he  desired  his 
brother  to  cut  his  cords;  and  being  released, 
assisted  in  pouring  rum  down  their  throats 
till  they  were  quite  insensible.  Fired  with 
resentment  at  their  intended  barbarity,  he 
and  his  brother  cut  all  their  throats,  loaded 
his  canoe  with  the  articles  they  had  taken 
out,  and  paddled  from  shore  as  fast  as  they 
could.  The  men  hailed  him  at  some  distance, 
and  were  rejoiced  to  see  him  safe;  and  after 
arranging  their  cargo,  [they]  pursued  their 

184 


Bopage?  anb  €rabel$? 


journey  into  the  Indian  country  by  a  differ¬ 
ent  course. 

I  was  informed  Mr.  Ramsay  returned  after¬ 
wards  to  Michilimackinac,  where  he  was  con¬ 
gratulated  by  the  commanding  officer  on  his 
fortunate  escape,  but  he  never  thought  it 
prudent  to  go  that  route  again. 

About  this  time  the  Indian  traders  formed 
a  company  of  militia,  which  I  joined  with  the 
rank  of  adjutant  and  lieutenant,  under  Captain 
John  Macnamara.  In  the  month  of  June, 
1780  news  was  brought  from  the  Mississippi 
that  the  Indian  traders  had  deposited  their 
furs  at  La  Prairie  des  Chiens,  or  Dogs’  Field 
(where  there  is  a  town  of  considerable  note, 
built  after  the  Indian  manner),  under  the  care 
of  Mons.  Longlad,  the  king’s  interpreter;48 
and  that  the  Americans  were  in  great  force  at 
the  Illinois,  a  town  inhabited  by  different 
nations,  at  the  back  of  the  Kentucky  state, 
under  the  Spanish  government,  who  have  a 
fort  on  the  opposite  shore,  commanded  by  an 
officer  and  about  twelve  men,  to  prevent  illicit 
trade. 

The  commanding  officer  at  Michilimackinac 
asked  me  to  accompany  a  party  of  Indians 
and  Canadians  to  the  Mississippi,  which  I 

“Prairie  du  Chien,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Wisconsin 
River,  had  been  from  time  immemorial  an  important 
rendezvous  of  Indian  intercourse  and  commerce.  Its 
permanent  white  settlement  seems  to  date  from  1781. 
On  Charles  Langlade,  see  Alexander  Henry’s  Travels 
and  Adventures,  pp.  80-87,  93~94- 

185 


S^tt  llong 


consented  to  with  the  utmost  cheerfulness. 
We  left  the  post49  with  thirty-six  southern 
Indians  of  the  Ottiguamie  and  Sioux  nations, 
and  twenty  Canadians,  in  nine  large  birch 
canoes,  laden  with  Indian  presents.  After  a 
march  of  three  days  I  was  taken  ill,  which  I 
attributed  to  hard  living  in  the  Nipigon 
country.  Considering,  however,  the  urgency  of 
the  business,  and  that  there  was  not  anyone 
of  the  party  capable  of  acting  as  interpreter, 
I  struggled  with  my  indisposition;  apprehend¬ 
ing,  also,  that  if  I  could  not  pursue  the  journey 
I  should  be  exposed  to  great  inconveniences; 
and  therefore  I  increased  my  endeavors,  deter¬ 
mined  to  risk  my  life  at  all  hazards. 

The  fourth  day  we  encamped  at  Lac  les 
Puants,50  so  called,  I  apprehend,  from  the 
Indians  who  reside  on  the  banks  being  nat¬ 
urally  filthy.  Here  we  got  plenty  of  deer  and 
bears,  Indian  corn,  melons,  and  other  fruit. 
The  southern  Indians  have  more  villages  and 
are  better  civilized  than  the  northern,  the 
climate  being  warm  and  nature  more  prolific, 
which  enables  them  to  raise  the  fruits  of  the 
earth  without  much  labor.  Their  houses  are 
covered  with  birch  bark  and  decorated  with 

49  Of  this  expedition,  which  forms  one  phase  of  the 
hostile  operations  between  the  British  partisans  in  the 
Northwest  and  the  Spaniards  of  upper  Louisiana  in  the 
closing  years  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  Long’s  nar¬ 
rative  is  our  best  account. 

“Modern  Green  Bay. 


Bopagcsf  att&  €tatod£ 


bows  and  arrows  and  weapons  of  war.  Their 
beds  are  bark  and  mats  made  of  rushes. 

We  pursued  our  voyage  to  Ouisconsin,  a 
fine  river  with  a  strong  current  for  about  sixty 
leagues,  which  our  canoes  ran  down  in  a  day 
and  a  half,  and  upon  which  we  saw  an  immense 
quantity  of  ducks,  geese,  and  other  fowl.  On 
this  river  we  were  obliged  to  unload  our  canoes 
in  order  to  transport  our  goods  across  the 
portage,  about  two  miles  in  length.  We 
encamped  on  the  banks  and  intended  setting 
off  at  break  of  day,  but  one  of  the  Indians  was 
bitten  by  a  rattlesnake,  which  Mr.  Adair  calls 
the  bright  inhabitant  of  the  woods,  and  which 
had  fourteen  rattles. 

Mr.  Beatty  relates  that  as  he  was  preaching 
to  the  Indians  and  others  at  a  small  house 
near  Juniata  River,  a  rattlesnake  crept  into 
the  room,  but  was  happily  discovered  and 
killed;  and  before  the  people  could  well  recover 
themselves,  a  snake  of  another  kind  was  dis¬ 
covered  among  the  assembly,  which  was  also 
killed  without  any  other  detriment  than 
disturbing  the  congregation,  which  surprised 
him  very  much,  as  it  was  a  matter  of  astonish¬ 
ment  how  these  reptiles  could  crawl  into  the 
house  without  being  offended  by  some  one, 
and  which  always  excites  them  to  bite. 

The  Indians  say  that  when  a  woman  is  in 
labor,  holding  the  tail  of  a  rattlesnake  in  her 
hand  and  shaking  the  rattles  assists  her  de¬ 
livery.  It  is  always  observable  that  the  Indians 
187 


Hong 


take  out  the  bag  which  contains  the  poisons 
of  the  venomous  reptile  and  carry  it  alive  in 
their  medicine-box  when  they  go  to  war. 

This  unfortunate  accident  retarded  our 
journey  until  the  unhappy  sufferer  relieved 
himself  by  cutting  out  the  wounded  part  from 
the  calf  of  hisv  leg,  and  applying  salt  and 
gunpowder  and  binding  it  up  with  the  leaves 
of  the  red  willow  tree.  He  was  soon  able 
to  proceed,  bearing  the  pain  with  that  forti¬ 
tude  for  which  the  savages  are  so  eminently 
distinguished. 

At  the  close  of  the  next  day  we  encamped 
near  the  river  and  it  rained  very  hard;  the 
Indians  made  some  bark  huts.  One  of  them, 
walking  some  distance  in  the  woods,  discovered 
a  small  log-house,  in  which  he  found  a  white 
man  with  his  arms  cut  off,  lying  on  his  back. 
We  conjectured  he  had  been  settled  at  the 
spot,  and  killed  by  a  bad  Indian,  which  must 
have  happened  very  recently  as  he  was  not 
putrid.  Before  our  departure  we  buried  him. 

The  next  day  we  arrived  at  the  Forks  of  the 
Mississippi,51  where  were  200  Indians  of  the 
nation  of  the  Renards,  or  Foxes,  on  horseback, 
armed  with  spears,  bows  and  arrows.  They 
did  not  seem  pleased  with  our  appearance,52 

61  That  is,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Wisconsin. 

62 Due  to  the  effective  work  of  George  Rogers  Clark, 
by  whose  efforts  these  Indians  had  been  won  over  to  the 
American  interest.  See  Clark’s  Conquest  of  the  Illinois, 
published  in  the  Lakeside  Classics  series  for  1920. 

188 


Bopage£  anti  Cratoefe 


which  Warbishar,  the  chief  of  our  band,  told 
me.  Just  before  we  landed  they  dismounted 
and  surveyed  us.  The  Sioux  asked  me  if  I 
was  afraid.  I  told  them  that  I  had  seen  a  great¬ 
er  number  of  savages  before,  and  more  wild 
than  any  of  the  southern  Indians.  Warbishar 53 
gave  orders  to  strike  ashore.  As  soon  as  we 
landed  the  Renards  took  our  Indians  by  the 
hand  and  invited  them  into  their  camp.  In 
the  space  of  an  hour  they  prepared  a  feast, 
which  consisted  of  five  Indian  dogs,  bear, 
beaver,  deer,  mountain  cat,  and  raccoon, 
boiled  in  bear’s  grease  and  mixed  with  huckle¬ 
berries.  After  the  repast  the  Indians  danced 
and  sang.  A  council  was  then  held,  when  the 
chief  of  the  Renards  addressed  Warbishar  to 
this  effect: 

“Brothers,  we  are  happy  to  see  you.  We 
have  no  bad  heart  against  you.  Although  we 
are  not  the  same  nation  by  language,  our 
hearts  are  the  same.  We  are  all  Indians,  and 
are  happy  to  hear  our  Great  Father  has  pity 
on  us  and  sends  us  wherewithal  to  cover  us 
and  enable  us  to  hunt.” 

To  which  Warbishar  made  answer:  “It  is 
true,  my  children,  our  Great  Father  has  sent 
me  this  way  to  take  the  furs  and  skins  that 
are  in  the  Dogs’  Field,  under  Captain  Long- 
lad’s  charge,  lest  the  Long  Knives  (meaning 
the  Americans)  should  plunder  them.  I  am 

63  This  was  Wabasha,  a  noted  Sioux  chief  of  Minnesota, 
who  sided  with  the  British  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

189 


^Potjn  Hong 


come  with  the  white  man  (meaning  me)  to 
give  you  wherewithal  to  cover  you  and  am¬ 
munition  to  hunt.” 

When  the  speech  was  finished  we  immediate¬ 
ly  distributed  the  presents,  got  our  canoes  into 
the  water,  and  left  the  Renards  in  the  most 
friendly  manner. 

After  seven  days’  journey  we  arrived  at 
La  Prairie  des  Chiens,54  where  we  found  the 
merchants’  peltry  in  packs,  in  a  log-house 
guarded  by  Captain  Longlad  and  some 
Indians,  who  were  rejoiced  to  see  us.  After 
resting  some  time,  we  took  out  about  300 
packs  of  the  best  skins  and  filled  the  canoes. 
Sixty  more  which  remained,  we  burned,  to 
prevent  the  enemy  from  taking  them,  having 
ourselves  no  room  to  stow  any  more,  and 
proceeded  on  our  journey  back  to  Michili- 
mackinac.  About  five  days  after  our  departure 
we  were  informed  that  the  Americans  came  to 
attack  us,  but  to  their  extreme  mortification 
we  were  out  of  their  reach.  Seventeen  days 
after  leaving  La  Prairie  des  Chiens,  we  arrived 
at  Lac  les  Puants,  where  we  found  a  party  of 
Indians  encamped.  The  next  day  we  em¬ 
barked  and  arrived  at  Michilimackinac  after 
an  absence  of  eighty  days.  Soon  after  my 
return  I  waited  on  the  commanding  officer, 
expecting  payment  for  my  services;  but 

54  Some  slight  confusion  is  evident  in  the  narrative 
at  this  point,  for  the  story  of  the  arrival  at  Prairie  du 
Chien  has  already  been  told. 

190 


Bopage£  anti  Crabds 


was  referred  for  satisfaction  to  the  Indian 
traders,  from  whom  I  never  received  any 
compensation. 

By  this  means  I  was  left  destitute  even  of 
the  necessaries  of  life;  but  I  did  not  remain 
long  in  this  uncomfortable  situation,  for  I  soon 
found  protection  and  support  among  the 
Indians;  but  as  their  assistance  would  not 
afford  the  means  to  appear  in  civil  society,  I 
was  under  the  necessity  of  soliciting  friendship 
from  the  merchants  to  enable  me  to  return  to 
Montreal,  which  I  fortunately  obtained.  I  left 
Michilimackinac  in  the  beginning  of  September 
and  arrived  at  Montreal  on  the  twenty-seventh 
of  the  same  month. 

I  embraced  the  first  opportunity  to  call  on 
my  old  master,  expecting  to  find  him  in  good 
health,  but  alas!  he  had  paid  the  debt  of 
nature,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  nephew,  who 
had  been  contemporary  clerk  with  me.  He 
permitted  me  to  lodge  at  his  house  for  a  fort¬ 
night,  but  a  few  days  after  my  abode  with 
him,  my  situation  being  different  from  what  I 
had  experienced  during  the  life  of  my  old  mas¬ 
ter,  I  asked  him  to  fit  me  out  with  an  assort¬ 
ment  of  goods  for  the  Indian  trade,  and 
promised  to  remit  him  payment  in  furs.  He 
told  me  I  was  welcome  to  any  goods  he  had  in 
his  store  that  would  suit  me,  but  on  examining 
the  stock  all  the  merchandise  proper  for  the 
savages  was  disposed  of,  and  nothing  left 
that  would  answer  any  profitable  purpose. 


^ofjn  Hong 


I  then  left  his  house,  returning  him  thanks 
for  his  civility;  and  having  procured  pecuniary 
assistance  from  a  friend,  took  lodgings  in  the 
town,  where  I  stayed  some  time.  I  then  went 
to  Quebec,  where  a  gentleman  accidentally 
hearing  that  I  was  out  of  employ,  and  knowing 
that  I  could  speak  the  Indian  languages,  sent 
for  me  and  engaged  me  in  his  service,  to  go 
among  the  Indians  at  Lake  Temiscaming55  or 
any  other  situation  I  might  think  most  eligible 
for  commerce. 

66  North  of  Lake  Ontario,  near  the  headwaters  of 
Ottawa  River. 


192 


Chapter  is 


EXPEDITION  TO  THE  SAGUENAY  COUNTRY 

BEING  furnished  with  a  proper  assort¬ 
ment  of  merchandise,  I  left  Quebec 
and  proceeded  to  Tadoussac,  which  is 
at  the  end  of  the  Saguenay  River,  near  the 
River  St.  Lawrence.  About  nine  miles  from 
Quebec  there  is  a  village  inhabited  by  the 
Loretto  Indians,  who  are  properly  of  the 
nation  of  the  Hurons.  They  embraced  Chris¬ 
tianity  through  the  means  of  the  Jesuits,  and 
followed  the  Catholic  religion.  The  women 
have  remarkably  good  voices  and  sing  hymns 
in  their  own  language  most  charmingly.  They 
cultivate  the  ground  and  bring  the  produce  to 
market;  and  in  their  manners  they  are  the 
most  innocent  and  harmless  of  all  the  savages 
in  North  America.  Their  houses  are  decent 
and  built  after  the  Canadian  fashion.  They 
are  an  exception  to  the  generality  of  Indians, 
seldom  drinking  any  spirituous  liquors.  They 
are  for  the  most  part  tall,  robust  people,  and 
well  shaped;  have  short  black  hair,  which  is 
shaved  off  the  forehead  from  ear  to  ear,  and 
wear  neither  caps  nor  hats.  With  regard  to 
their  beards,  though  they  are  scarcely  visible, 
they  have  them  in  common  with  all  the  tribes 
of  savages;  but  having  an  aversion  to  excres- 


193 


S'ofyn  flotig 


cences,  they  carefully  pluck  out  every  hair 
from  the  upper  jaw  and  chin  with  brass  wire, 
which  they  twist  together  in  the  form  of 
pincers;  and  it  is  well  known  that  all  traders 
carry  out  that  article  of  commerce  for  this 
express  purpose. 

Baron  de  Lahontan  seems  to  have  been 
much  mistaken  when,  in  speaking  of  the 
savages,  he  says  that  they  have  no  beards. 
Lord  Kaims56  was  also  in  the  same  error,  when 
he  asserted  there  is  not  a  single  hair  on  an 
Indian’s  body  excepting  the  eyelashes,  eye¬ 
brows  and  hair  of  the  head,  and  that  there  is 
no  appearance  of  a  beard. 

This  observation,  Mr.  James  Adair  remarks, 
is  utterly  void  of  foundation,  as  can  be  at¬ 
tested  by  all  who  have  had  any  communica¬ 
tion  with  them;  and  Major  Robert  Rogers,67 
who  certainly  knew  the  Indians  as  well  as 
any  man,  says  that  they  totally  destroy  their 
beards,  which  proves  beyond  a  doubt  that  they 
are  not  naturally  imbarbes. 

I  have  been  led  into  these  observations  from 
the  perusal  of  Lord  Kaims’  Sketches  of  Man, 

66  Henry  Horne,  Lord  Kames,  Sketches  of  History  of 
Man  (Edinburgh,  1774). 

67  Major  Robert  Rogers  of  New  England  was  a  noted 
ranger  in  the  French  and  Indian  War.  He  was  later 
appointed  Governor  of  Michilimackinac,  where  his 
rule  proved  most  unfortunate.  He  wrote  one  of  the 
earliest  American  plays,  A  Concise  Account  of  North 
America  (to  which  Long  here  makes  allusion),  and  one 
or  two  other  works. 


194 


t^opageg  att&  Crabdb 


who  not  only  insists  that  the  Indians  have  no 
beards,  but  builds  on  the  hypothesis  to  prove 
a  local  creation. 

Tadoussac  is  on  the  sea  side  north  of  the 
River  St.  Lawrence,  and  inhabited  by  a  few 
Indians  called  mountaineers,  who  live  chiefly 
on  fish;  and  one  trader,  clerk  to  the  gentleman 
in  whose  service  I  was  engaged. 

There  is  a  French  clergyman  and  a  church 
for  the  Indians,  who  are  all  Catholics.  At  this 
village  I  remained  a  fortnight,  during  which 
time  the  American  privateers  were  continually 
cruising  about.  One  morning  there  was  a 
great  fog,  but  we  could  just  discern  at  a  small 
distance  a  vessel:  this  alarmed  the  priest  and 
the  Indians.  My  brother  Englishman  (the 
trader  who  was  settled  here)  joined  with  me  in 
soliciting  the  Indians  to  stand  their  ground, 
which  the  priest  strongly  opposed,  though  paid 
by  the  British  government.  This  incensed  me, 
and  I  insisted  on  taking  some  of  his  flock  with 
me  to  reconnoitre  and  endeavor  to  discover 
what  vessel  she  was,  though  I  had  strong  suspi¬ 
cions  she  was  an  American  privateer.  We 
went  towards  the  shore,  but  could  not  discover 
the  number  of  guns  she  mounted.  We  re¬ 
turned  to  our  camp  and  all  the  Indians  at  my 
request  accompanied  me  to  attack  her.  We 
embarked  in  canoes,  dressed  alike,  and  as  we 
approached  perceived  she  lay  at  anchor  and 
was  a  vessel  of  inconsiderable  force,  mounting 
only  eight  small  swivels.  I  immediately  went 


‘ijofjn  Hong 


on  one  side  of  her  and  directed  the  Indians 
to  the  other,  to  inclose  her  as  much  as  we  could. 
Having  reached  the  vessel,  I  took  hold  of  a 
rope  and  went  on  board.  The  Captain  was 
alarmed,  and  his  fears  were  increased  when  he 
saw  himself  surrounded  with  canoes,  filled 
with  savages  armed  with  guns  and  tomahawks. 
However,  he  advanced  towards  me  and  clap¬ 
ping  me  on  the  shoulder  asked  what  I  wanted. 
I  was  too  politic  to  make  any  reply  at  that 
time.  He  then  asked  me  if  I  would  have  some 
biscuit.  I  replied,  “ Caween ,”  or,  “No.”  He 
shook  his  head,  as  much  as  to  say  “I  wish  I 
could  know  what  you  want.”  The  Indians  then 
came  on  board,  and  the  Captain,  having  only 
seven  men  and  our  number  being  upwards  of 
forty,  well  armed,  did  not  know  how  to  act, 
but  probably  willing  to  please  me,  ordered  his 
men  to  get  some  biscuit  and  rum.  Whilst  the 
sailors  were  gone  I  perceived  she  was  an 
English  vessel,  and  then  asked  the  Cap¬ 
tain  in  English  to  whom  she  belonged.  He 
was  agreeably  surprised,  told  me  his  name 
was  Allcrow,  and  that  he  commanded  the 
Mercury ,  packet  of  Quebec.  This  informa¬ 
tion  gave  me  occasion  to  rejoice  we  did  not 
take  rough  means;  and  when  I  communi¬ 
cated  the  intelligence  to  the  Indians  they 
were  highly  pleased  and  shook  hands  with 
the  Captain. 

The  Captain  then  accompanied  us  to  shore 
in  our  canoes  and  we  landed  at  our  encamp- 

196 


Bopageg  anti  €rabd£ 


ment.  We  afterwards  went  to  the  priest’s 
house,  where  we  dined.  Mr.  Martin,  the 
priest,  and  myself  were  invited  on  board  the 
next  day,  when  we  had  an  excellent  repast, 
with  plenty  of  wine  and  other  liquors.  Un¬ 
fortunately  we  drank  too  freely,  and  returning 
in  the  evening,  the  priest  began  to  be  very 
angry  with  me  for  encouraging  the  savages. 
This  reprehension,  with  his  former  conduct, 
incensed  me  exceedingly  and  in  the  heat  of 
passion  I  threw  him  overboard,  but  by  the 
assistance  of  the  sailors  he  was  saved.  On  our 
landing,  our  contest  led  us  to  blows,  but  we 
were  soon  parted.  When  we  were  recovered 
from  intoxication  we  shook  hands,  and  after¬ 
wards  remained  good  friends. 

The  next  day  the  Indians  were  seized  with 
an  epidemic  fever,  which  deprived  them  of 
the  use  of  their  limbs  and  occasioned  a  delir¬ 
ium.  The  disorder  attacked  me  very  severely, 
but  by  the  friendly  assistance  of  Mr.  Martin, 
who  had  a  medicine  chest,  in  about  three 
weeks  I  recovered. 

The  winter  now  advancing  very  rapidly, 
and  the  unavoidable  delay  at  this  post 
obliged  me  to  proceed  on  my  journey  on  snow- 
shoes,  carrying  all  my  goods  on  Indian 
sleighs  through  the  woods  and  over  high 
mountains.  We  travelled  twenty-one  days  on 
a  deep  snow,  about  ioo  leagues  through 
the  Saguenay  country,  which  was  very 
fatiguing,  till  we  arrived  at  a  place  called 


197 


3fotyn  3long 


Checootimy.58  About  half  way  up  the  river 
on  which  it  stands  the  salt  water  ebbs  and 
flows.  Only  a  few  Indians  reside  here,  and 
one  Indian  trader,  with  whom  I  wintered  and 
hunted,  killing  a  great  many  animals.  Early 
in  the  spring  I  took  my  leave  of  him,  and 
being  furnished  with  canoes,  pursued  my 
journey  to  St.  John’s  Lake;  from  thence  to 
Panebacash  River,  to  Lake  Shaboomoochoine, 
which  lies  northeast  of  Lake  Arbitibis  about 
the  distance  of  seven  days’  Indian  march. 

Near  the  falls  of  Panebacash  River  I  landed 
and  ascended  a  high  mountain,  to  survey  a 
large  cave,  about  200  yards  deep  and  three 
yards  wide  at  the  mouth.  Here  I  picked  up  a 
piece  of  ore  about  three  inches  square.  The 
exterior  crust  was  black  and  very  thin  and 
when  broken  appeared  yellow.  I  brought  it  to 
Quebec,  but  by  some  accident  lost  it,  which  I 
lamented  exceedingly,  as  some  of  my  friends 
to  whom  I  showed  it  were  of  opinion  that  it 
was  very  valuable. 

The  journey  was  farther  inland  by  nearly 
eighty  leagues  than  any  trader  had  ever  been, 
the  only  settlement  in  that  part  of  Canada 
being  at  St.  Peter’s  Lake,  where  a  French 
house  was  formerly  established,  and  where 
an  English  trader  who  was  employed  by  the 
merchants  in  whose  service  I  was  engaged 
resided. 

68  Chicoutimi  is  at  the  head  of  navigation  on  the 
Saguenay  River. 

198 


Bopagc£  ants  €tabel$ 


I  arrived  at  Lake  Shaboomoochoine  on  the 
twenty-sixth  of  May,  1781,  where  I  intended 
to  stay  only  a  few  days;  but  some  Indians 
arrived  who  assured  me  that  it  would  answer 
my  purpose  to  winter,  and  promised  to 
supply  me  with  fish,  furs,  and  skins.  This 
induced  me  to  remain  here,  and  I  built  a 
house  suitable  for  my  business,  and  kept  two 
Indians  with  their  wives  to  hunt  for  me. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  we  set  our  nets,  and 
in  about  four  hours  caught  abundance  of 
large  trout,  pike,  maskenonjey,  pickerel,  and 
whitefish,  and  as  the  country  abounded  with 
wild  fowl  we  were  never  without  two  courses 
at  table,  with  roots  for  garden  stuff. 

On  the  seventeenth  of  June  a  band  of  In¬ 
dians  arrived,  who  were  agreeably  surprised 
to  see  a  trader  at  a  place  where  no  one  had 
settled  before,  and  they  were  particularly  de¬ 
lighted  when  they  heard  me  speak  their  own 
language. 

During  my  residence  here  I  saw  a  great 
many  snakes;  and  one  day  in  particular  as  I 
was  walking  in  the  woods  I  discovered  one 
of  those  reptiles  in  the  grass.  The  instant  I 
perceived  it  I  cut  a  long  stick  and  dropped 
it  gently  on  the  snake’s  head;  it  immediately 
moved,  and  I  could  hear  the  rattles  very 
distinctly.  Whilst  I  was  surveying  the  bright¬ 
ness  of  its  colors,  which  were  inexpressibly 
beautiful,  it  was  coiling  itself  round  like  a 
rope  to  dart  at  me.  This  warned  me  of  my 


199 


^ofm  Hong 


danger,  and  I  took  [hold  of]'  the  taper  end  of 
the  stick  and  let  the  heavy  end  fall  on  its 
head.  The  weight  of  the  blow  stunned  it, 
and  seizing  this  opportunity  I  struck  it  again, 
which  killed  it.  I  measured  it  and  judged  the 
length  to  be  at  least  five  feet  and  a  half,  and 
the  thickest  part  about  four  inches  in  circym- 
ference,  with  nine  rattles  on  its  tail,  which 
agreeably  to  the  general  observation  made  his 
age  nine  years;  but  I  believe  this  is  not  an 
established  fact,  as  it  is  uncertain  at  what 
time  the  rattle  begins  to  appear. 

The  flesh  of  this  reptile  is  delicious,  and  I 
have  frequently  eaten  of  it  with  great  gout. 
I  have  seen  the  Indians  poison  it  with  the 
juice  of  tobacco. 

Whilst  I  am  on  the  subject,  though  not  quite 
connected  with  it,  I  shall  make  some  observa¬ 
tion  on  the  turkey  and  black  water  snake. 

The  turkey  snake  is  longer  than  the  rattle¬ 
snake,  with  stripes  on  the  back,  and  a  spear 
at  the  end  of  its  tail  like  an  anchor,  and  a 
double  row  of  teeth  in  each  jaw.  It  takes  its 
name  from  its  voice,  which  resembles  the  note 
of  a  wild  turkey.  In  the  Mississippi  [country] 
it  feeds  on  wild  rice,  which  grows  among  long 
grass,  bearing  its  head  frequently  erect,  and 
makes  a  noise  like  a  turkey  to  decoy  it.  As  the 
bird  approaches,  the  snake  darts  its  tail  into 
it,  and  makes  it  an  easy  prey. 

The  black  water  snake  is  used  by  the  Indians 
when  they  go  to  war.  They  pull  out  the  teeth, 


200 


l^opagcg  anti  €rabd£ 


tie  the  head  and  tail  together,  and  fasten  [it] 
round  their  bodies,  which  soon  kills  it.  They 
take  it  off  every  night,  and  put  it  on  every 
morning. 

In  travelling  from  Toniata  Creek  on  the 
River  St.  Lawrence,  to  Pimetiscotyon  Landing 
on  Lake  Ontario,  I  saw  one  of  these  snakes 
swimming  with  a  flat  fish  in  its  mouth,  which 
I  had  the  good  fortune  to  shoot,  and  released 
the  prisoner  from  the  jaws  of  death. 

I  kept  a  flag  constantly  flying  at  my  little 
fort,  which  the  Indians  paid  respect  to  by  a 
salute  from  their  guns.  The  band  who  were 
at  this  time  with  me  held  a  council  and  made 
me  a  present  of  two  very  large  beaver  robes 
and  several  valuable  skins,  with  plenty  of  pro¬ 
visions,  for  which  I  supplied  them  with  to¬ 
bacco,  rum,  trinkets,  and  ammunition.  Two 
days  after,  they  left  me  and  desired  me  to 
wait  their  return,  which  I  promised,  provided 
they  would  bring  me  furs  and  skins  to  load 
the  canoes,  and  they  should  be  repaid  with 
Indian  goods.  As  I  depended  on  their  punctu¬ 
ality,  I  remained  perfectly  satisfied. 

I  was  then  left  with  two  white  men  and 
two  Indians  and  their  wives.  We  passed  our 
time  in  hunting  and  fishing,  and  as  there  were 
a  great  many  small  islands  near  us,  we  made 
frequent  trips  to  shoot  wild  fowl,  which 
enabled  us  to  keep  a  good  table.  On  one  of  the 
islands  we  discovered  two  Indian  huts,  but 
from  their  appearance  no  person  had  visited 


201 


fofjti  31ong 


them  for  a  [great]  length  of  time.  About  half 
a  mile  from  the  place  we  saw  a  high  pole, 
daubed  over  with  vermilion  paint;  on  the  top 
were  placed  three  human  skulls,  and  the  bones 
hung  round.  The  Indians  supposed  it  had 
been  erected  many  years.  About  an  hour  be¬ 
fore  sunset  we  returned  to  our  wigwam.  The 
next  morning,  in  the  absence  of  the  Indians, 
the  Canadians  assisted  me  in  mixing  the  rum 
and  assorting  the  goods,  to  be  prepared  against 
the  arrival  of  the  savages  and  to  fill  up  the 
time,  which  hung  heavy  on  our  hands. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  June  a  band  of 
Indians  arrived  from  Lake  Arbitibis,  who 
brought  a  considerable  quantity  of  excellent 
furs  and  skins,  with  dried  meat,  which  I  bar¬ 
tered  for.  When  the  bargain  was  made  I  gave 
them  some  rum,  as  usual  upon  such  occa¬ 
sions,  which  after  their  long  march  highly  de¬ 
lighted  them.  They  drank  very  plentifully, 
as  I  had  exceeded  the  common  donation,  but 
their  cargo  deserved  it;  and  I  always  found  it 
my  interest  to  be  generous  to  them  upon  a 
barter. 

On  their  departure,  taking  an  Indian  for  my 
guide  I  made  a  visit  to  a  brother  trader  150 
miles  from  my  settlement.  I  stayed  with  him 
about  a  fortnight,  and  was  on  the  point  of  re¬ 
turning  when  two  Indians  came  to  inform  me, 
by  the  desire  of  my  Canadians,  that  a  band 
of  savages  waited  for  me.  In  about  five  days 
we  returned,  and  I  bartered  for  all  their  furs. 


202 


Bopagc$  anti  €ratael£ 


On  the  sixteenth  of  July  about  fifty  savages 
came  with  their  spring  hunt,  which  I  also 
bartered  for,  though  the  peltry  was  very 
inferior  to  what  is  collected  in  winter;  but  as 
I  was  determined  to  make  as  good  a  season  as 
possible,  I  was  eager  to  avail  myself  of  every 
opportunity  to  increase  my  stock. 

The  latter  end  of  the  month  the  band  who 
had  promised  to  return  came  in  and  fulfilled 
their  promise,  bringing  a  large  quantity  of 
furs,  which,  with  the  stock  I  had  collected 
during  their  absence,  was  as  much  as  my 
canoes  would  hold.  They  also  brought  intel¬ 
ligence  that  the  Hudson’s  Bay  Company  had 
been  pillaged  of  their  furs  by  the  French.59 

Early  in  the  month  of  August  I  made  up 
my  packs  and  embarked  for  Quebec,  where  I 
arrived  in  about  six  weeks,  to  the  great  joy  of 
my  employers,  who.  from  my  long  absence, 
were  very  uneasy;  however,  the  cargo  fully 
satisfied  them,  and  convinced  them  of  my 
industry  and  integrity  in  their  service.  Being 
persuaded  I  had  undergone  great  fatigue,  they 
made  me  a  handsome  present  above  my 
salary,  and  I  quitted  their  service  and  the 
Indian  life  with  a  resolution  to  endeavor  to 
procure  an  employ  less  hazardous,  and  where 
I  could  partake  of  the  pleasures  of  society  with 
less  fatigue,  both  of  body  and  mind. 

I  remained  some  time  at  Quebec  and  in- 

59The  allusion  is  to  the  capture  of  York  Factory  and 
Fort  Prince  of  Wales  by  the  expedition  of  La  Perouse. 


203 


^ofjn  Hong 


tended  to  pass  my  winter  there,  but  my  money 
being  nearly  exhausted  and  my  mind  not 
reconciled  to  another  Indian  voyage,  I  re¬ 
turned  to  Montreal,  where  I  found  friends  to 
supply  my  wants  till  the  spring  following. 


204 


Chapter  is 


FURTHER  VICISSITUDES  OF  THE  AUTHOR 

IN  May  I  took  a  trip  to  Fort  George, 
situated  on  a  lake  of  the  same  name, 
called  by  the  French  Saint  Sacrement, 
where  I  stayed  with  some  of  the  Mohawks 
who  were  encamped  there.  In  the  beginning 
of  the  French  and  Indian  War,  in  1757,  there 
was  a  remarkable  instance  of  resolution  and 
cool,  deliberate  courage  in  one  of  these  savages, 
occasioned  by  a  sentence  being  passed  upon  a 
soldier  to  receive  500  lashes  for  intoxication. 

An  Indian,  known  by  the  name  of  Silver 
Heels  from  his  superior  agility,  as  well  as  his 
admirable  finesse  in  the  art  of  war,  and  who 
had  killed  more  of  the  enemy  than  anyone 
[else]  of  the  tribes  in  alliance  with  Great 
Britain,  accidentally  came  in  to  the  fort  just 
before  the  soldier  was  to  receive  his  punish¬ 
ment,  and  expressed  his  displeasure  that  a 
man  should  be  so  shamefully  disgraced.  He 
went  up  to  the  commanding  officer  and  asked 
him  what  crime  the  soldier  had  committed. 
The  officer,  not  choosing  to  be  questioned, 
ordered  one  of  his  men  to  send  Silver  Heels 
away,  and  to  inform  him  that  the  company  of 
Indians  was  not  agreeable  on  such  occasions. 
“Wa!  wa!”  or,  “Oh!  oh!”  replied  the  savage, 


205 


Hong 


“but  what  is  the  warrior  tied  up  for?”  “For 
getting  drunk,”  answered  the  soldier.  “Is 
that  all?”  said  Silver  Heels.  “Then  provide 
another  set  of  halberts  and  tie  up  your  chief, 
for  he  gets  drunk  twice  a  day.”  Having  said 
so  he  instantly  left  the  fort,  telling  the  soldier 
he  should  quickly  return  to  endeavor  to  pre¬ 
vent  the  punishment  being  inflicted.  Soon 
after  the  delinquent  was  tied  up,  and  the  drum¬ 
mers  in  waiting  to  obey  orders,  Silver  Heels 
returned,  and  going  up  to  the  officer,  with  a 
tomahawk  and  scalping-knife,  said  to  him. 
“Father,  are  you  a  warrior,  or  do  you  only 
think  yourself  so?  If  you  are  brave,  you  will 
not  suffer  your  men  to  strike  this  soldier  whilst 
I  am  in  this  fort.  Let  me  advise  you  not  to 
spill  the  good  English  blood  which  tomorrow 
may  be  wanted  to  oppose  an  enemy.”  The 
officer,  turning  upon  his  heel,  answered  with 
an  indignant  look  that  the  soldier  had  trans¬ 
gressed  and  must  be  flogged.  “Well!”  replied 
Silver  Heels,  “  then  flog  him  and  we  shall  soon 
see  whether  you  are  as  brave  a  warrior  as  an 
Indian.” 

About  two  days  after,  the  officer  was  riding 
some  distance  from  the  fort,  and  Silver  Heels 
was  lying  flat  on  his  stomach,  according  to  his 
usual  custom  when  he  watched  to  surprise  an 
enemy.  The  officer  passed  without  perceiving 
him,  when  he  instantly  sprang  up  and  laying 
hold  of  the  horse’s  bridle,  told  the  officer  to 
dismount  and  fight  him.  The  officer,  judging 

206 


I^opageg  anb  €rabd£ 


it  improper  to  risk  his  life  against  a  savage, 
refused  to  dismount  and  endeavored  to  spur 
his  horse.  Silver  Heels,  perceiving  his  inten¬ 
tion,  tomahawked  the  horse,  who  fell  down 
suddenly,  and  the  officer  rolled  on  the  ground 
without  being  hurt.  “Now,”  says  Silver 
Heels,  “we  are  on  equal  terms,  and  as  you  have 
a  brace  of  pistols  and  a  sword  you  cannot 
have  any  objection  to  fight  me.”  The  officer 
still  refusing,  Silver  Heels  told  him  that  he 
thought  himself  a  warrior  when  he  ordered 
one  of  his  white  slaves  to  be  flogged  for  a 
breach  of  martial  law,  but  that  he  had  now 
forgotten  the  character  he  then  assumed  or  he 
certainly  would  have  fought  him;  and  looking 
very  sternly,  added  that  he  had  a  great  mind 
to  make  him  change  his  climate;  but  as  that 
mode  of  proceding  would  not  answer  his  pur¬ 
pose,  and  sufficiently  expose  him  among  his 
brother  warriors,  he  might  walk  home  as  soon 
as  he  pleased;  and  that  tomorrow  morning  he 
would  come  to  the  fort  with  the  horse’s  scalp 
and  relate  the  circumstance.  The  officer  was 
rejoiced  to  escape  so  well,  though  he  was 
obliged  to  walk  a  distance  of  three  miles. 

The  next  morning  Silver  Heels  arrived  and 
asked  to  see  the  officer,  but  was  denied  ad¬ 
mission  into  his  presence.  Some  of  his  brother 
officers  came  out  and  inquired  his  business. 
He  related  to  them  the  circumstance  between 
the  officer  and  himself,  and  exhibited  the  tro¬ 
phy,  adding  that  tomorrow  he  intended  going 


207 


^ofm  Hong 


to  war,  and  should  make  a  point  of  taking 
an  old  woman  prisoner,  whom  he  should  send 
to  take  the  command  of  the  fort,  as  the  great 
chief  was  only  fit  to  fight  with  his  dog  or  cat, 
when  he  was  eating,  lest  they  should  have 
more  than  him.  Then,  asking  for  some  rum 
(which  was  given  him)  he  left  the  fort  to  fulfill 
his  promise,  but  was  soon  after  killed  in  an 
engagement,  fighting  manfully  at  the  head  of 
a  party  of  Mohawks  near  the  Bloody  Pond, 
joining  to  Lord  Loudon’s  Road,  in  the  way  to 
Albany. 

Just  before  the  frost  set  in  I  returned  to 
Montreal  and  visited  my  old  Cahnuaga 
friends,  where  I  amused  myself  in  the  Indian 
way,  as  I  always  preferred  their  society  to  the 
Canadians.  Notwithstanding,  I  occasionally 
mixed  in  more  civilized  amusements,  and  as 
I  danced  tolerably  well  my  company  was  gen¬ 
erally  sought  after. 

The  Canadians  are  particularly  fond  of 
dancing,  from  the  seigneur  to  the  habitant; 
and  though  the  meaner  sort  of  people  do  not 
excel  in  it,  there  is  a  peculiar  ease  and  careless 
indifference,  which,  though  it  appears  too 
rustic,  is  far  from  being  disagreeable.  The 
beverage  on  those  occasions  is  sour  Spanish 
red  wine,  called  black  strap;  and  this,  homely 
as  it  would  be  thought  in  more  refined  assem¬ 
blies,  is  there  considered  as  a  very  handsome 
manner  of  treating  their  friends. 

The  winter  being  passed,  I  determined  to 
208 


Bopageg  an& 


go  to  Quebec  and  endeavor  to  get  a  passage 
to  England,  not  having  any  prospect  of  a 
permanent  settlement  in  Canada.  On  my 
arrival  I  put  up  at  a  tavern  and  lived  as 
moderately  as  possible,  from  necessity  more 
than  inclination;  for  everyone  knows  that 
Indian  traders,  like  sailors,  are  seldom  suffi¬ 
ciently  prudent  to  save  much  money.  For¬ 
tunately  for  me,  I  met  with  an  old  schoolfellow 
at  Quebec,  a  captain  of  a  ship,  whom  I  had 
not  seen  for  sixteen  years.  To  him  I  com¬ 
municated  my  distressed  situation,  and  by 
him  was  generously  relieved.  In  addition  to 
this  act  of  kindness,  he  promised  me  a  free 
passage  to  England  on  board  his  vessel,  which 
offer  I  accepted  with  pleasure  and  gratitude. 

Having  fixed  the  time  of  his  departure,  I 
took  the  post  and  went  to  Montreal  to  settle 
my  affairs,  I  then  returned  to  Quebec,  from 
whence  we  sailed  the  eleventh  day  of  October, 
1783  and  put  into  Newfoundland.  When  we 
came  in  sight  of  harbor  several  of  us  requested 
permission  to  take  the  long  boat  and  row  on 
shore,  which  was  granted;  but  it  being  a  dead 
calm,  we  made  very  little  way.  We  had  not 
left  the  ship  more  than  a  league  when  a  south¬ 
west  wind  sprang  up  and  retarded  us  consider¬ 
ably.  In  the  evening  the  wind  abated,  and 
with  hard  rowing  we  reached  the  shore  about 
midnight,  both  fatigued  and  hungry.  Early 
in  the  morning  the  ship  came  into  harbor,  and 
had  suffered  some  damage  by  beating  about  in 


209 


^ofm  3long 


the  night,  which  induced  the  captain  to  dis¬ 
pose  of  the  cargo.  On  the  ninth  of  Novem¬ 
ber  we  left  Newfoundland  on  board  another 
vessel.  Our  passage  was  favorable,  without 
any  remarkable  occurrence,  and  we  arrived  in 
London  the  thirtieth  of  the  same  month. 

My  native  city,  upon  my  arrival,  appeared 
like  a  new  world  to  me,  having  been  absent 
from  England  fifteen  years,  and  it  was  with 
difficulty  I  found  any  of  my  old  friends,  the 
greatest  part  of  them  in  such  a  length  of  time 
being  dead. 

In  February,  1784  I  entered  into  an  engage¬ 
ment  with  a  relation  to  return  to  Canada, 
and  being  furnished  with  a  cargo,  left  London 
on  the  fifteenth  of  April  following.  On  the 
twentieth  we  got  under  way  and  put  into 
Portsmouth  to  take  in  wines.  After  a  bad  and 
tedious  passage  of  eleven  weeks  we  arrived 
safe  at  Quebec,  from  whence  my  goods  were 
sent  to  Montreal  in  small  craft.  Unfortunately 
the  season  was  too  far  advanced  to  suffer  me 
to  attempt  going  to  Michilimackinac  and 
wintering  in  the  inlands,  as  I  had  no  prospect 
of  providing  suitable  canoes;  nor  were  my 
goods  properly  assorted,  and  there  was  not 
time  sufficient  to  arrange  them,  so  as  to  make 
the  intended  voyage.  This  induced  me  to 
consult  a  friend  upon  the  occasion,  who  ad¬ 
vised  me  to  dispose  of  my  goods  at  public 
vendue,  which  I  did  at  very  great  loss,  so  that 
I  could  only  remit  my  friend  in  London  a  very 


210 


Bopageg  anti  Crabd^ 


small  sum  in  part  of  payment.  In  this  ad¬ 
venture  nothing  succeeded  to  my  wishes,  for 
by  my  credulity  and  being  willing  to  retrieve, 
if  possible,  the  loss  I  had  sustained,  I  soon  in¬ 
creased  my  difficulties,  so  that  in  a  few  months 
after  my  arrival,  all  my  schemes  failing,  I  was 
left  totally  destitute. 

In  February,  1785  I  quitted  Montreal  and 
walked  from  La  Prairie  to  St.  John’s,  where  I 
accidentally  found  a  friend  who  supplied  me 
with  money  to  go  to  New  York.  I  proceeded 
to  Stony  Point,  where  I  stayed  two  days  with 
some  Loyalist  officers,  some  of  whom  accom¬ 
panied  me  to  Crown  Point,  where  we  also 
stayed  three  days.  We  then  parted  company 
and  I  hired  a  sleigh  which  carried  me  safely 
to  New  York,  where  I  took  a  lodging  and  lived 
as  moderately  as  I  could. 

During  my  residence  there  I  met  a  Loretto 
savage,  called  Indian  John,  who  had  been  in 
the  American  service  all  the  war,  and  who 
waited  to  receive  a  reward  for  his  fidelity,  as  the 
Congress  were  then  sitting.  He  told  me  he  had 
been  at  war  for  them  nine  years,  had  killed 
a  great  many  of  their  enemies,  and  had  only 
received  a  gun,  two  blankets,  three  pieces  of 
Indian  gartering,  and  one  hundred  dollars  in 
paper  money,  which  he  could  not  make  use  of; 
and  as  I  understood  his  language,  he  desired 
me  to  render  him  service  by  interpreting  for 
him  to  the  Governor.  I  desired  him  to  call  at 
my  lodgings,  and  in  the  meantime  I  wrote  down 


211 


the  circumstances  he  had  related  to  me,  that 
I  might  be  prepared  in  case  I  was  sent  for  at 
a  short  notice. 

A  few  days  after,  he  explained  to  me  more 
fully  the  nature  of  his  claim  and  how  he  had 
been  trifled  with  by  Congress.  I  asked  him 
his  reasons  for  engaging  in  the  American  serv¬ 
ice.  He  told  me  that  at  the  commencement 
of  the  war  the  Big  Knives  (meaning  the  Amer¬ 
icans)  had  advised  him  to  turn  his  heart  from 
the  English  and  promised  to  supply  all  his 
wants;  and,  as  an  additional  inducement,  that 
they  would  pay  a  better  price  for  a  scalp 
than  had  been  usually  given,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  war  he  should  have  land  and  stock 
sufficient  to  maintain  himself  and  family; 
but  he  was  now  convinced  they  only  meant  to 
serve  themselves  as  he  had  frequently  applied 
for  a  performance  of  their  promises  without 
success;  and  that  he  was  determined  to  get 
satisfaction  some  way  or  other. 

I  told  him  I  was  not  sorry  for  his  disappoint¬ 
ment;  that  he  was  a  bad  Indian  for  deserting 
his  good  father,  who  lived  on  the  other  side 
the  great  water  and  who  was  universally  be¬ 
loved  by  all  who  knew  him,  particularly  by 
the  Loretto  nation;  and  as  the  subjects  of  this 
great  and  good  father  lived  near  his  village 
and  gave  every  proof  of  their  love  and  friend¬ 
ship  to  his  nation,  which  he  could  not  be  ig¬ 
norant  of,  I  was  surprised  that  he  should  suffer 
his  heart  to  be  moved  by  the  changeable 


Bopageg  anti  Crafccls 


winds,  and  was  sorry  to  add  that  I  believed 
he  was  the  only  Loretto  Indian  with  two 
minds,  and  therefore  I  was  unwilling  to  say 
anything  in  his  behalf  before  Congress. 

These  remarks  on  his  conduct  seemed  to 
affect  him,  and  he  replied  that  he  hoped,  not¬ 
withstanding  he  had  deserted  the  cause  of  his 
great  father,  he  should  find  me  his  friend  to 
attend  him  when  his  affair  should  be  taken 
under  consideration  by  Congress,  as  he  had 
not  anyone  in  New  York  who  could  serve 
him  so  essentially.  I  told  him  that  in  spite  of 
my  just  displeasure,  his  situation  had  melted 
my  heart  and  I  would  not  refuse  his  request. 

In  about  four  days  he  came  to  acquaint  me 
that  Congress  were  then  sitting,  and  he  be¬ 
lieved  they  would  pay  his  demand  if  I  would 
go  with  him  and  interpret  to  the  Governor; 
but  having  taken  an  active  part  against  the 
Americans  during  the  war,  I  would  willingly 
have  been  excused.  On  his  urging  my  promise 
to  him,  I  could  not  resist,  and  immediately 
accompanied  him  to  the  council,  where  Gover¬ 
nor  Franklin  was  president,  who  asked  me  if 
I  knew  Indian  John.  I  told  him,  only  by  seeing 
him  at  New  York,  and  that  I  came  at  his 
particular  request  to  speak  in  his  behalf.  He 
desired  me  to  assure  the  Indian  that  he  might 
depend  on  having  his  demand  satisfied  in  a 
few  days,  and  to  make  his  mind  easy.  This  I 
communicated  to  him,  with  which  he  seemed 
perfectly  satisfied. 


213 


Song 


Soon  after,  he  was  sent  for  and  he  received 
an  order  on  a  merchant  for  one  hundred 
dollars,  which  being  presented  for  payment, 
was  not  honored.  This  incensed  John,  and  he 
desired  me  to  tell  the  merchant  that  the 
Congress  and  their  agents  were  all  thieves. 
The  merchant  excused  himself  by  saying  that 
the  treasury  was  very  poor,  and  could  not 
immediately  satisfy  every  demand. 

The  next  day  John  went  again  to  the  Gover¬ 
nor  and  having  acquainted  him  with  the 
refusal  of  the  draft,  received  an  order  on 
another  merchant,  which  was  duly  honored. 
John’s  heart  was  quite  elated,  and  in  less  than 
ten  days  he  had  disposed  of  all  the  money, 
like  a  true  Indian,  principally  in  drink. 

My  interference  in  favor  of  the  Indian  made 
me  well  known  and  procured  me  an  introduc¬ 
tion  to  a  respectable  mercantile  house,  from 
which  I  got  credit  for  the  Indian  trade.  Hav¬ 
ing  arranged  my  cargo  I  proceeded  in  a  vessel 
to  Albany,  where  I  arrived  on  the  eighteenth 
of  June.  At  this  place  I  unloaded  my  goods 
and  got  them  conveyed  in  a  wagon  to  Schenec¬ 
tady,  where  I  purchased  two  boats.  On  the 
sixth  of  July  I  proceeded  up  the  Mohawk 
River  to  the  German  Flats,  where  I  stayed 
three  days,  during  which  time  a  band  of 
Oneida  Indians  came  and  solicited  me  to 
winter  at  their  village,  which  was  about  ten 
days’  march  from  Fort  Stanwix.  I  complied 
with  their  request  and  set  off  with  twenty- 


214 


Bopageg  anti  €rabelg 


eight  horses  to  carry  my  baggage,  being 
obliged  to  travel  through  the  woods,  and  sold 
my  boats  to  satisfy  those  from  whom  I  hired 
the  horses.  I  arrived  safe  at  the  village  with 
all  my  goods,  but  finding  the  plan  was  not 
likely  to  turn  out  advantageously,  after  a 
residence  with  them  [of]  three  weeks,  I  bar¬ 
tered  for  the  few  skins  they  had  and  having 
repurchased  my  boats,  I  left  my  Indian 
friends,  proceeding  immediately  to  the  Genesee 
Lake,  where  I  arrived  on  the  fourteenth  of 
September. 

Having  landed  and  secured  my  goods  I 
ordered  my  men  to  prepare  a  house.  The 
chiefs,  on  hearing  of  my  arrival,  assembled 
and  came  up  to  me,  accompanied  by  their 
young  men,  expecting  presents,  which  I  was 
obliged  to  make;  and  I  asked  permission  to 
stay  on  their  ground.  Some  consented,  and 
others  disapproved;  at  the  last,  after  consulting 
each  other,  they  told  me  I  might  go  on  with  the 
building.  The  men  immediately  proceeded 
with  cheerfulness  and  despatch,  in  hopes  of 
finishing  the  business  before  their  return; 
but  how  transitory  are  all  human  events! 
Whilst  the  men  were  at  work  some  Indians 
came  in  great  haste  to  desire  my  attendance 
at  the  council  fire,  which  was  at  a  small  dis¬ 
tance  from  my  intended  place  of  residence.  I 
obeyed  the  summons  and  sat  down  by  the 
chiefs,  when  one  of  them  rose  up,  and  addressed 
me  to  the  following  effect: 


S^ofm  Hong 


“You  are  the  sugar,  for  so  you  are  called  in 
our  tongue,  but  you  must  not  have  too  much 
sweetness  on  your  lips.  All  the  Oneida  Indians 
say  they  have  heard  that  you  are  only  come 
under  a  pretense  to  get  our  lands  from  us; 
but  this  must  not  be.  My  young  warriors  will 
not  suffer  any  Englishman  to  settle  here. 
You  are  like  the  great  chief,  General  Johnson, 
who  asked  for  a  spot  of  ground,  or  large  bed, 
to  lie  on;  and  when  Hendrick,  the  chief  of  the 
Mohawks,  had  granted  his  request,  he  got 
possession  of  a  great  quantity  of  our  hunting 
grounds;  and  we  have  reason  to  think  that 
you  intend  to  dream  us  out  of  our  natural 
rights.  We  loved  Sir  William  and  therefore 
consented  to  all  his  requests;  but  you  are  a 
stranger,  and  must  not  take  these  liberties. 
Therefore,  my  advice  is  that  you  depart  to¬ 
morrow  at  break  of  day,  or  you  will  be  plun¬ 
dered  by  the  young  warriors  and  it  will  not  be 
in  our  power  to  redress  you.” 

As  I  have  mentioned  a  council,  I  shall  de¬ 
scribe  the  form  of  a  house  erected  for  that 
purpose  near  Fort  Pitt. 

The  building  is  long,  with  two  fires  in  it  at 
a  proper  distance  from  each  other,  without 
any  chimney  or  partition.  The  entry  into  the 
house  is  by  two  doors,  one  at  each  end.  Over 
the  door  the  figure  of  a  turtle  was  drawn, 
which  is  the  ensign  of  the  particular  tribe.  On 
each  door-post  was  cut  out  the  face  of  an  old 
man,  an  emblem  of  that  gravity  and  wisdom 
216 


Bopage^  and  €rabd£ 


that  every  senator  ought  to  be  possessed  of. 
On  each  side,  the  whole  length  of  the  house 
within,  is  a  platform  or  bed  five  feet  wide, 
raised  above  the  floor  one  foot  and  a  half,  made 
of  broad  pieces  of  wood  split,  which  serves 
equally  for  a  bed  to  sleep  on  and  a  place  to 
sit  down.  It  is  covered  with  a  handsome  mat 
made  of  rushes,  and  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
building  the  king  or  great  chief  sat. 

To  return  from  this  digression:  We  baled 
up  our  goods  and  proceeded  to  Fort  Oswego, 
which  I  attempted  to  pass,  but  was  pre¬ 
vented  by  a  sentinel,  who  informed  me  that 
no  bateau  with  goods  could  pass  without  the 
commanding  officer’s  permission.  I  told  him 
I  was  not  an  American,  and  would  wait  on 
him  to  know  if  he  had  issued  such  orders. 
I  travelled  in  my  Indian  dress,  and  left  my  men 
at  the  landing,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
the  garrison.  I  paid  my  respects  to  him,  and 
acquainted  him  with  my  situation.  He  told 
me  he  should  be  very  happy  to  oblige  me,  but 
that  it  was  impossible  to  pass  the  fort  without 
proper  credentials;  and  as  I  had  them  not,  he 
desired  me  to  return  to  the  United  States  to 
prevent  my  goods  being  seized.  Notwith¬ 
standing  this  friendly  advice  I  was  determined 
to  run  the  risk,  and  to  my  extreme  mortifica¬ 
tion  they  were  all  seized  by  the  custom-house 
officers,  by  them  deposited  in  the  king’s  ware¬ 
house,  and  afterwards  condemned. 

In  this  distressed  situation,  and  very  ill  in 


217 


Stofjn  Hong 


health,  I  went  down  in  a  king’s  boat  to  Catara- 
qui,  where  I  arrived  on  the  eighth  of  November 
and  took  up  my  abode  at  Mr.  Howell’s  tavern. 
My  indisposition  increasing,  I  was  obliged  to 
keep  to  my  blankets  and  had  only  one  faithful 
squaw  to  attend  me.  In  this  miserable  state 
I  lay  some  time,  expecting  every  hour  to 
change  my  climate,  though  determined  to  use 
every  endeavor  to  effect  a  recovery.  At  this 
interesting  period  my  correspondent  arrived 
from  England,  and  notwithstanding  the  losses 
he  had  sustained  by  my  imprudence,  performed 
the  part  of  a  good  Samaritan,  pouring  oil  and 
wine  into  my  wounds;  and  finding  my  disorder 
required  medical  assistance,  desired  a  surgeon 
to  attend  me,  and  I  was  soon  sufficiently 
recovered  to  pursue  my  journey  to  La  Chine, 
where  I  remained  some  months  in  preparing 
the  goods  which  he  [had]  brought  from  Eng¬ 
land  for  a  Northwest  journey  among  the 
Indians,  intending  to  go  next  spring  to  Michil- 
imackinac.  Mais  la  mauvaise  fortune  qui  nous 
poursuivit  toujours  frustrated  all  our  schemes 
and  obliged  us  to  leave  La  Chine  on  the 
twenty-sixth  of  May,  1786,  from  whence  we 
proceeded  in  a  large  Schenectady  boat  to 
Oswegatche,  where  we  stopped  a  few  hours 
and  landed  at  a  place  called  Toniata  Creek, 
where  I  determined  to  apply  for  500  acres  of 
land  as  a  Loyalist  settler;  which  being  granted 
me  by  Government,  I  immediately  felled 
timber  to  build  a  house  for  the  accommodation 


218 


12opagc£  anti  €ratad£ 


of  Indians,  in  hopes  of  deriving  considerable 
advantages  by  barter. 

In  a  few  days  the  Indians  came  to  trade 
with  us,  which  gave  us  encouragement  and 
at  the  same  time  flattered  us  with  the  pleasing 
ideas  of  succeeding  in  commerce;  but  some 
affairs  requiring  my  friend’s  attendance  at 
Montreal,  trade  suffered  a  temporary  suspense, 
and  at  his  return  he  told  me  that  we  must 
leave  our  quarters  for  he  was  apprehensive  of 
a  seizure  for  an  English  debt. 

In  this  cruel  dilemma  flight  was  our  only 
security,  and  we  embarked  all  our  goods  on 
board  a  large  bateau  and  proceeded  to 
Pimitiscotyan  Landing  upon  Lake  Ontario, 
where  we  entered  a  creek  and  found  accommo¬ 
dation  at  a  trader’s  house.  The  next  morning 
we  prepared  a  house  for  trade,  and  for  some 
days  went  on  successfully;  but  our  happiness 
was  of  short  duration,  for  an  officer  pursued 
us  and  took  possession  of  all  the  effects  he 
could  find,  even  to  the  tent  which  sheltered  us 
from  the  weather,  and  carried  them  down  to 
Montreal,  where  they  were  sold  for  less  than 
one-fourth  part  of  their  original  cost  and 
charges.  Thus  circumstanced,  without  any 
property  to  trade  with,  we  came  down  to  the 
Bay  of  Kenty  and  resided  there  ten  months 
among  the  Loyalist  settlers,  whose  hospitality 
tended  to  soften  the  rigor  of  distress  and 
alleviate  my  sorrows.  Early  in  spring,  1786, 
we  crossed  over  to  Carleton  Island  and  from 


219 


3long 


thence  to  Fort  Oswego,  intending  to  go  into 
the  United  States  by  that  post;  but  not  having 
any  pass,  we  were  not  allowed  to  pursue  our 
journey.  In  this  mortifying  situation  I  advised 
my  friend  to  adopt  another  plan,  and  procured 
a  conveyance  to  Salmon  Creek,  about  twenty 
miles  from  the  fort.  Here  we  rested  one  day, 
and  with  five  pounds  of  pork  and  two  loaves 
of  bread  we  set  off  on  foot,  escorted  by  a 
squaw,  expecting  to  reach  Fort  Stanwix  in 
about  four  days;  but  the  old  path  was  entirely 
obliterated  and  we  were  obliged  to  return  in 
the  evening  to  the  creek,  disappointed  in  the 
attempt.  Unwilling  to  make  another  effort, 
we  agreed  to  return  to  Fort  Oswego,  and 
though  the  distance  was  not  more  than  twenty 
miles,  we  were  six  days  before  we  reached  the 
garrison. 

In  this  expedition  my  friend  suffered  great 
hardships;  not  being  accustomed  to  sleep  in 
the  woods,  and  having  also  a  knapsack  with 
about  thirty  pounds’  weight  to  carry,  grieved 
him  exceedingly.  The  shortness  of  provisions 
increased  the  distress,  for  it  cannot  be  sup¬ 
posed  that  five  pounds  of  pork  and  two  loaves 
of  bread  would  last  three  persons  any  length 
of  time. 

Previous  to  our  journey’s  end  we  were 
twelve  hours  without  any  sustenance  except 
wild  onions;  but  fortunately  we  found  on  the 
sand  about  140  birds’  eggs,  which  we  boiled 
and  eagerly  devoured,  notwithstanding  the 


220 


Bopagcg  anti  €rabd£ 


greatest  part  had  young  birds  in  them,  with 
small  down  on  their  bodies. 

On  our  arrival  at  the  fort  the  commanding 
officer  rallied  us  on  our  attempt;  and  taking 
my  friend  aside,  advised  him  either  to  return 
to  Montreal  or  go  up  to  Niagara,  as  he  was 
sure  he  was  not  equal  to  the  fatigue  of  an 
Indian  life.  He  followed  the  officer’s  advice, 
and  left  me  at  the  fort,  which  I  soon  after¬ 
wards  quitted  and  went  down  to  Montreal. 
From  thence  I  got  a  conveyance  to  Quebec 
and  being  greatly  distressed,  applied  to  Lord 
Dorchester  for  relief,  who  generously  directed 
his  aide-de-camp  to  accompany  me  to  Lieu¬ 
tenant-general  Hope,  and  strongly  recom¬ 
mended  me  to  his  notice,  to  be  employed  in 
an  Indian  capacity.  Being  in  some  measure 
relieved,  and  supplied  with  a  few  dollars 
and  other  necessaries,  I  was  sent  up  to 
Cataraqui. 

I  left  Quebec  and  arrived  at  Montreal  on 
the  fourteenth  of  July.  The  next  day  I 
pursued  my  journey  on  foot,  but  seeing 
two  Indians  of  my  acquaintance  in  a  canoe 
and  having  some  money  in  my  pocket  to 
buy  rum,  I  hired  them  to  convey  me  to 
Cataraqui,  and  in  our  way  we  killed  plenty 
of  game. 

On  the  nineteenth  of  August  I  delivered  my 
credentials  to  the  proper  officer,  but  he  could 
not  render  me  any  service.  However,  he  recom¬ 
mended  me  by  letter  to  his  friend  at  Carleton 


221 


^Pofm  Slong 


Island,  where  Sir  John  Johnson60  was  waiting 
for  a  vessel  to  convey  him  to  Niagara  to  hold 
a  council  with  the  Indians.  Fortunately  I 
procured  an  interview  with  him  and  com¬ 
municating  to  him  my  situation,  he  ordered 
me  to  be  in  readiness  to  assist  as  interpreter 
at  his  return.  On  the  eighteenth  of  September 
Sir  John  Johnson  met  us  at  the  head  of  the 
Bay  of  Kenty.  The  instant  the  Indians  heard 
of  his  arrival  they  saluted  him  with  a  discharge 
of  small  arms  and  having  received  some  rum, 
they  danced  and  sang  all  night  their  war 
songs.  One  of  them  I  particularly  noticed, 
which  was  to  the  following  effect: 

“At  last  our  good  father  is  arrived.  He  has 
broken  the  small  branches,  and  cleared  his 
way  to  meet  us.  He  has  given  us  presents  in 
abundance,  and  only  demands  this  large  bed 
(meaning  a  considerable  tract  of  land  which 
was  described  on  a  map).” 

At  twelve  o’clock  the  next  day  a  council  was 
held  and  Sir  John  laid  his  map  before  them, 
desiring  a  tract  of  land  from  Toronto  to  Lake 
Huron.  This  the  Indians  agreed  to  grant  him 
and  the  deed  of  gift  being  shown  them,  it  was 
signed  by  the  chiefs  affixing  the  emblem,  or 

00  This  was  the  son  of  Sir  William  Johnson  of  New 
York.  He  succeeded  to  his  father’s  rank  and  estates, 
and  during  the  Revolution  was  an  active  leader  of 
partisan  forays  against  his  native  state.  At  the  close  of 
the  war  he  removed  to  Canada  and  became  Superin¬ 
tendent  of  Indian  Affairs  for  British  North  America. 


t£opage£  anb  €ratod£ 


figure  of  their  respective  totems,  as  their 
signatures. 

Sir  John  Johnson  then  left  them  and  em¬ 
barked  for  Cataraqui,  the  capital  of  the 
Loyalist  settlements. 

Previous  to  his  departure  I  made  him  more 
fully  acquainted  with  my  distressed  situation 
and  procured  from  him  a  temporary  supply, 
which  enabled  me  to  go  down  to  the  third 
township  in  the  Bay  of  Kenty,  where  I  stayed 
with  my  Loyalist  friends  till  the  spring  of 
1787,  during  which  time  I  had  frequent  op¬ 
portunities  of  making  observations  on  the 
flourishing  state  of  the  new  settlements. 

The  settlements  of  the  Loyalists  in  Canada 
bid  fair  to  be  a  valuable  acquisition  to  Great 
Britain;  and  in  case  of  a  war  with  the  United 
States  will  be  able  to  furnish  not  only  some 
thousands  of  veteran  troops,  but  a  rising  gen¬ 
eration  of  a  hardy  race  of  men  whose  principles 
during  the  last  war  stimulated  them  to  every 
exertion,  even  at  the  expense  of  their  property, 
family,  and  friends,  in  support  of  the  cause 
they  so  warmly  espoused.  There  was,  however, 
when  I  resided  in  the  country,  one  cause  of 
complaint,  which,  though  it  may  not  imme¬ 
diately  affect  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  the 
present  inhabitants  or  prevent  an  increase  of 
population  in  proportion  to  the  unlocated 
lands,  is  big  with  impending  danger,  and 
which  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  public  I  shall 
endeavor  to  explain. 


223 


Hong 


All  the  land  from  Point  au  Baudet  (the  be¬ 
ginning  of  the  Loyalist  settlements  on  the 
River  St.  Lawrence)  to  the  head  of  the  Bay 
of  Kenty,  which  at  this  period,  I  am  informed, 
contains  at  least  10,000  souls,  is  said  to  be 
liable  to  the  old  feudal  system  of  the  French 
seigneuries,  the  lords  of  which  claim  title  to 
receive  some  rent,  or  exercise  some  paramount 
right,  which  though  it  may  be  at  present  very 
insignificant,  and  which  perhaps  may  never 
be  insisted  on,  renders  every  man  dependent 
on  the  lord  of  the  manor,  and  in  process  of 
time,  as  land  becomes  more  valuable,  the 
raising  these  rents  or  the  exercise  of  these 
rights,  may  occasion  frequent  disputes.  I 
think,  therefore,  with  submission  to  our  gov¬ 
ernment,  that  as  many  hundreds  of  Americans 
are  now  settled  there,  and  doubtless  many 
more  may  occasionally  migrate  from  the 
United  States,  either  from  being  disgusted 
with  the  polity  of  the  country  or  from  an  idea 
of  reaping  greater  benefits  as  subjects  of  Great 
Britain,  it  behooves  us  to  remove  every  ob¬ 
stacle  of  subserviency,  and  either  by  purchase 
or  any  other  mode  Administration  may  think 
fit  to  adopt,  render  all  the  lands  in  Canada 
granted  to  Loyalist  subjects,  or  others  who 
have  [taken]  or  may  voluntarily  take  the  oaths 
of  allegiance,  as  free  as  those  in  Nova  Scotia. 

Men  who  have  been  engaged  in  their  coun¬ 
try’s  cause  from  the  best  of  principles  should 
have  every  possible  indulgence;  and  in  propor- 


224 


IDopngcs  anti  €rabri£ 


tion  as  they  have  been  deprived  of  comforts 
by  the  desolation  of  war,  they  should  be  recom¬ 
pensed  without  any  partial  restrictions,  and  the 
remainder  of  their  days  rendered  as  happy  as  the 
governments  they  live  under  can  make  them. 

The  population  of  these  new  settlements 
and  their  parallel  situation  with  Fort  Oswe- 
gatche,  Carleton  Island,  Oswego,  and  Niagara 
evince,  perhaps,  more  forcibly  than  ever  the 
propriety  of  retaining  these  barriers  in  our 
possession,  which  in  the  former  part  of  this 
work  I  have  fully  explained;  and  as  the  third 
township  alone  (which  is  nine  miles  square) 
contained  in  the  year  1787  about  1700  in¬ 
habitants,  it  is  difficult  to  say  what  number 
of  valuable  subjects  that  country  may  here¬ 
after  produce.  Certain  it  is  that  it  is  capable 
of  supporting  multitudes,  as  the  land  is  in 
general  fertile  and  on  an  average  produces 
about  thirty  bushels  of  wheat  per  acre,  even 
in  the  imperfect  manner  in  which  it  is  cleared, 
leaving  all  the  stumps  about  three  feet  high 
and  from  five  to  ten  trees  on  an  acre.  This 
mode  of  clearing  is  in  fact  absolutely  necessary, 
because  new-cultivated  lands  in  hot  climates 
require  shelter  to  prevent  the  scorching  heat  of 
the  sun,  which  in  its  full  power  would  burn  up 
the  seed.  It  has  also  been  found  expedient  in 
stony  ground  to  let  the  stones  remain,  as  they 
retain  a  moisture  favorable  to  vegetation. 

In  the  month  of  May  I  left  the  new  settle¬ 
ments  and  went  down  to  Montreal  and  from 


225 


Stofnt  Hong 


thence  to  Quebec,  where  I  waited  on  Lord 
Dorchester,  but  could  not  gain  admittance.  I 
was  afterward  informed  that  His  Lordship  was 
indisposed.  I  then  went  to  Lieutenant-general 
Hope’s,  but  he  had  embarked  for  England. 

So  many  mortifying  disappointments  af¬ 
fected  me  very  sensibly,  but  as  my  discourage¬ 
ments  generally  increased  my  exertions,  I 
was  more  assiduous  in  my  endeavors  to  live, 
and  while  I  was  contriving  schemes  for  future 
support  I  received  a  supply  from  a  friend. 
So  seasonable  a  relief  braced  up  all  my  nerves, 
and  I  felt  a  pleasure  that  can  scarce  be  con¬ 
ceived  by  any  but  such  as  have  experienced 
hardships  and  difficulties  similar  to  mine. 

My  heart  being  cheered  and  every  gloomy 
thought,  dispersed,  I  determined  to  leave  the 
country  whilst  I  had  money  in  my  pocket. 
Having  found  another  friend  to  sign  a  pass,  I 
went  on  board  a  ship  then  lying  in  the  River 
St.  Lawrence  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  October, 
and  arrived  in  London  the  beginning  of 
December  following,  rejoiced  at  again  setting 
foot  on  my  native  shore. 

Having  finished  the  historical  part  of  my 
work,  I  have  only  to  solicit  the  candid  in¬ 
dulgence  of  the  public  for  any  literary  errors 
I  may  have  been  guilty  of;  and  with  great 
respect  to  convey  to  them  an  humble  hope 
that  the  Voyages  and  Travels,  together  with 
the  vocabulary  subjoined,  may  not  be  found 
totally  unworthy  of  their  attention. 

226 


Index 


fitter 


Adair,  James,  History  of  the  American  Indians  cited, 
39,  *94- 

Adirondack  Indians,  war  with  Iroquois,  12-14;  alliance 
with  French,  131. 

Adultery,  punished,  119. 

Albany,  as  fur-trade  center,  20-21. 

Albany,  Fort,  route  to,  137-38;  captured  by  French, 

r38. 

Algonkin,  importance  of  language,  xxvii. 

Allcrow, - ,  captain  of  Mercury,  196. 

Allen,  Ethan,  in  Revolutionary  War,  25-26. 

Anne,  Queen,  presents  goods  to  Indians,  43. 

Arbitibis,  Lake,  described,  105;  Indians  trade  with 
Long,  135-36. 

Arnold,  Benedict,  in  Revolutionary  War,  27. 
Assenegether,  Iroquois  chief,  8. 

Athergain,  Indian  game,  described,  69. 

Ball  game,  described,  68-69. 

Banks,  Sir  Joseph,  Long  dedicates  book  to,  xvii. 

Baths,  sweat,  described,  63. 

Bears,  as  totems,  1 10-12;  at  Crow’s-nest  Lake,  135; 

as  food,  173.  See  also  Grizzly  Bears. 

Beattie,  Rev.  Charles,  Journal  cited,  34,  187. 

Beauport,  described,  5. 

Beaver,  described,  54. 

Bernard,  Samuel,  superstition  of,  112. 

Bird,  Henry,  in  Revolutionary  War,  xv-xvi. 

Boneau,  Joseph,  fur-trade  employee,  76. 

Braddock,  Gen.  Edward,  criticized,  37. 

Brooke,  Frances  M.,  as  novelist,  99. 

Buffalo,  method  of  hunting,  122-23. 

Butler,  Lieut.  Walter,  in  Revolutionary  War,  26. 
Calumet,  described,  61-62. 


229 


Canada,  Americans  invade,  xii,  25-30;  origin  of  name, 
4;  use  of  French  language,  8;  canoe  travel  in,  50; 
fondness  of  people  for  dancing,  208. 

Cannibalism,  among  traders,  151-60. 

Canoes,  method  of  repairing,  52;  Northwest,  described, 
57;  made  by  Indians,  138. 

Carden,  Major,  killed,  26. 

Caribou  (Reindeer)  Lake,  described,  105. 

Cark  Cark  (the  Crow),  scalping  exploit,  32-33. 

Carleton,  Sir  Guy,  in  Revolutionary  War,  30,  45. 

Carleton  Island,  described,  20;  Long’s  party  visits,  219. 

Carlton,  Major,  in  Revolutionary  War,  36. 

Carver,  Jonathan,  Travels  discussed,  xix-xx;  cited,  107- 
108,  164-65;  career,  xxviii-xxix. 

Cataraqui  (Fort  Frontenac),  described,  16-17;  Long 
visits,  218-21. 

Caughnawaga  (Cahnuaga,  Cocknawaga),  Long  locates 
at,  8;  village,  described,  9-11;  Indians  allies  of 
British,  35-36;  intermarry  with  Connecedagas,  34. 

Charivari,  custom  described,  46-47. 

Chessaquoy,  Indian  rattle,  64. 

Chicoutimi  (Checootimy),  Long’s  party  at,  198. 

Chippewa  (Sauteur)  Indians,  importance  of  language, 
xxvi-xxix;  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  57;  mode  of  life, 
67-68;  roving  habits,  81;  warfare  with  Sioux,  98; 
courtship,  170-71. 

Chippewa  Point,  Long  sojourns  at,  176-80. 

Clark,  George  Rogers,  in  Revolutionary  War,  xv- 
xvi,  188. 

Clark,  James,  employees  starve,  no. 

Colden,  Cadwallader,  History  of  the  Five  Indian  Nations, 
i5- 

Connecedaga  (Rondaxe)  Indians,  war  party,  27-30; 
tribe  described,  34-36;  village,  53. 

Cooper,  Isabella,  in  Chicago  massacre,  31. 

Council,  Indians  hold,  215-17,  222-23. 

Cranberries,  in  Lake  Schabeechevan,  137. 

Cranberry  Lake,  significance  of  name,  134;  Long’s 
party  at,  173. 

Crawford,  Captain,  captures  Ethan  Allen,  25-26. 


230 


Crow’s  River  (Cark  Cark  Seepi),  described,  106. 

Crow’s-nest  Lake  (Cark  Cark  Sakiegan),  described, 
106. 

Crow’s-nest  Lake  (Lac  le  Nid  au  Corbeau),  described, 
I3S;  Long’s  party  at,  173. 

Delaware  Indians,  unwarlike  reputation,  13,  36. 

Detroit,  described,  22. 

Dogs,  traders  eat,  76;  Indian  bitten  by,  101-102. 

Dorchester,  Lord,  Long  appeals  to  for  aid,  221,  226. 

Dufresne,  Lewis,  act  of  cannibalism,  151-58. 

Edwards,  Rev.  Jonathan,  Indian  vocabulary,  xxviii. 

England,  Colonel,  in  Revolutionary  War,  30. 

Eturgeon,  Lac,  see  Sturgeon  Lake. 

Famine,  at  Lac  la  Mort,  75-76;  at  Lake  Savan,  no; 
among  traders,  148-60. 

Feudal  system,  in  Canada,  described,  224-25. 

Firearms,  introduced  among  Indians,  13. 

Fishing,  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  57;  in  Lac  la  Mort,  74-75, 
109-10;  in  Red  Lake,  104;  in  Caribou  Lake,  105;  in 
Crow’s-nest  Lake,  106;  in  Lake  Savan,  no;  in 
Riviere  la  Pique,  132;  in  Lake  Schabeechevan,  137, 
139,  142-43;  fish  as  food,  148;  in  Lake  Shaboomoo- 
choine,  199.  See  also  the  kinds  of  fish. 

Five  and  Six  Nation  Indians,  see  Iroquois. 

Fleas,  at  Trois  Rivieres,  7. 

Foster,  Captain,  in  Revolutionary  War,  26. 

Fox  (Renard)  Indians,  reception  of  British  at  Prairie 
du  Chien,  188-90. 

Franklin,  Governor,  Long  interviews,  213. 

French,  use  of  language  in  Canada,  8;  war  with  Iroquois, 
13-14;  christianize  Indians,  41-42. 

French  River,  see  Ottawa  River. 

Frontenac,  Fort,  see  Cataraqui. 

Fulton, - ,  trading  activities,  151-58. 

Fur-trade,  morality  of  traders,  44;  canoes  described, 
50,  57;  route  from  Montreal  to  Mackinac,  51-53; 
repairing  canoes,  52;  food  of  employees,  57;  traders 
barter  with  Indians,  65,  72-73,  100,  109-10,  121, 
127,  132,  141-42,  148,  168,  201-203,  219;  traders  at¬ 
tacked,  81-92,  144-47,  181-85;  assemble  at  Pays 


231 


Sender 


Plat,  129,  175;  hardships  of  life,  130-31;  expedition 
to  Prairie  du  Chien,  185-90. 

Galvez,  Governor-General,  defeats  British,  xv, 

George,  Fort  (Saint  Sacrement),  anecdote  concerning, 
205-208. 

German  Flats,  fertility,  114;  Long’s  party  at,  214. 

Gordon,  Major,  killed,  27. 

Grand  Portage,  activities  of  North  West  Company,  59. 

Grand  River,  see  Ottawa  River. 

Grande  Cote  de  la  Roche,  La,  route  by,  66;  described, 
134;  Long’s  party  at,  173. 

Great  Spirit,  offerings  to,  58. 

Green  Bay  (Lac  les  Puants),  British  expedition  at,  186. 

Grizzly  Bears,  ferocity,  55;  method  of  hunting,  122. 

Henry,  Alexander,  career,  xi,  xiii;  Travels  cited,  22, 
23.  57,  59,  60,  62,  128,  138,  153,  185. 

Hope,  Lieutenant-General,  succors  Long,  221;  returns 
to  England,  226. 

Horne,  Henry,  see  Lord  Karnes. 

Hudson’s  Bay  Company,  trader  attacked,  81-92,  144- 
47;  trader  deserts  to,  119-21;  trader  visits  Long, 
159-60;  administration  defended,  160-67;  fort  pil¬ 
laged,  203. 

Hunter,  Governor,  speech  to  Indians,  43. 

Huron  Indians,  of  Loretto,  described,  193-94. 

Indians,  warfare,  xii-xiii,  25-40,  99-103;  vocab¬ 
ulary  of  language,  xxvi-xxix;  method  of  con¬ 
ducting  trade,  6;  Caughnawagas  described,  9-11; 
firearms  introduced  among,  13;  drinking  of  liquor, 
11,  19-20,  65,  73-74,  83-92,  109,  119,  132-33,  I4I-43, 
181-84;  scalping  described,  31-33;  sense  of  direc¬ 
tions,  37-38:  cleverness,  38-39;  vanity,  39-40; 
jealousies,  40,  1 14-19,  132-33;  violent  tempers,  41; 
influence  of  Christianity,  41-44;  immorality  of 
traders  to,  44;  attacks  on  traders,  81-92, 144-47, 181- 
85;  dances,  46;  moccasins,  47;  physical  prowess,  48; 
marksmanship,  48-49;  hunting  methods,  122-23; 
generosity,  55-56,  150;  shrine  at  entrance  to  Lake 
Superior,  58;  superstitions,  58-59,  175,  187;  ceremo¬ 
ny  of  adoption,  61-65;  games,  68-70;  position  of 


232 


Sto&ejt 


wife,  73,  172-73;  childbirth,  77-78;  treatment  of 
children,  78-80,  128-29;  torture  of  enemies,  92-95; 
execution  of  aged,  95-97;  of  prisoners,  182-85;  geo¬ 
graphical  knowledge,  107-108;  totemism,  110-12; 
dreams,  1x2-14;  adultery  punished,  119;  practice  of 
polygamy,  121;  battle  between  tribes,  123-26; 
medicine  men,  127-28;  fashions  in  ears,  136-37; 
canoe-making,  138;  love  song,  143;  courtship,  170- 
72;  attitude  toward  Great  Spirit,  174-75;  of  Green 
Bay,  described,  186-87;  of  Loretto,  described,  193- 
94;  wearing  of  beards,  193-95  j  exploit  of  Silver  Heels, 
205-208;  councils  held,  62-63, 112-14,  215-17,  222-23. 
See  also  the  several  Indian  tribes. 

Iroquois  Indians,  described,  xxv,  12-18;  language, 
xxix;  war  with  Adirondacks,  12-14;  with  French,  13- 
14;  leagues  among,  14-16;  territorial  claims,  17-18; 
vanity,  40. 

Janvier,  Charles,  act  of  cannibalism,  151-58. 

Jay,  John,  treaty  with  Great  Britain,  19. 

Johnson,  Sir  John,  council  with  Indians,  222-23. 

Johnson,  Lieut.  Peter,  in  Revolutionary  War,  26. 

Johnson,  Sir  William,  council  with  Indians,  62-63,  112- 
r4- 

Jordan, - ,  lost  in  woods,  3-4;  found,  6. 

Kalm,  Peter,  Travels  quoted,  38-39. 

Kames,  Lord  (Henry  Horne),  Sketches  of  History  of 
M an  cited,  194-95. 

Kenty,  Bay  of,  see  Quinte. 

Kesconeek,  speech,  72-73;  aids  Long,  120-21. 

La  Chine,  origin  of  name,  50;  Long  sojourns  at,  218. 

La  Forme,  Joseph,  killed,  146-47. 

Lahontan,  Baron  de,  career,  xxvii;  narrative  cited, 15, 
194- 

Lake  of  the  Two  Mountains,  Indians  of,  34-36,  45,  53. 
See  also  Connecedaga  Indians. 

Lamothe,  Captain  Guillaume,  in  Revolutionary  War, 
27-30. 

Langlade,  Charles,  in  Revolutionary  War,  xv;  at 
Prairie  du  Chien,  185,  xgo. 

La  Perouse,  raids  Hudson’s  Bay  Company  forts,  203. 


233 


Subcr 


La  Salle,  Sieur  de,  enlarges  Fort  Frontenac,  17;  de¬ 
scribes  panther,  53-54. 

Laudanum,  Indians  drugged  with,  132,  141-42. 

Liquor,  use  by  Indians  deplored,  n;  drinking  by  In¬ 
dians,  19-20,  65,  74,  83-92,  109,  1 19,  132-33,  141-43, 
181-84;  watered,  73,  168;  drugged  by  traders,  133, 

I4T-42. 

Long,  John,  biographical  sketch,  xi-xvii;  Travels  pub¬ 
lished,  xvii-xviii;  estimate  of,  xviii-xx;  preface  to 
original  edition,  xxv-xxx;  removal  to  America,  3-8; 
in  Revolutionary  War,  25-31,  45,  185-91,  195-96; 
Indian  vocabulary,  xxvi-xxix,  35;  learns  Chippewa, 
46;  masters  arts  of  Indians,  47 ;  enters  Northwest  fur- 
trade,  50;  removal  to  Lake  Superior,  57;  adoption 
by  Chippewa,  60-65;  winter  at  Lac  la  Mort,  71-129; 
visits  Lake  Manontoye,  76-97;  quells  Indian  attack, 
82-92;  Indian  jealous  of,  114-19;  second  winter  in 
Northwest,  132-76;  injures  chief,  135-36;  attacked 
by  Indian,  144-46;  defense  of  Hudson’s  Bay  Com¬ 
pany  administration,  160-67;  speech,  168-69;  es" 
capade  at  Mackinac,  176-80;  expedition  to  Prairie 
du  Chien,  185-91;  return  to  Montreal,  191-92,  203- 
204;  expedition  to  Sagueney  country,  193-203; 
encounter  with  French  priest,  195-96;  visit  to  Fort 
George,  205;  return  to  Caughnawaga,  208;  to 
England,  209-10,  226;  re-enters  fur-trade,  210-11, 
214-21;  visits  New  York,  211-14. 

Long  Sault,  waterfall  described,  52. 

Loon,  described,  49. 

Loretto,  village  described,  193-94;  claim  of  Indians 
against  United  States,  211-14. 

Louis  XVI.,  reputed  son  of,  8. 

Loyalists,  of  Mohawk  Valley,  114;  settlements,  16,  218- 
19,  223-25. 

Mackinac,  see  Michilimackinac. 

Macnamara,  Capt.  John,  heads  expedition  to  Prairie 
du  Chien,  185-90. 

Manontoye,  Lake,  Long  visits,  76-97;  described,  98. 

Marie  Antoinette,  reputed  son  of,  8. 

Maskenonjey,  caught,  199. 


234 


^ntier 


Matchekewis  (Matchee  Quewish),  aids  British,  xv; 
at  Pays  Plat,  60,  64. 

Mattoyash  (the  Earth),  speech,  140. 

Medicine  men,  methods  described,  127-28. 

Menominee  (Wild  Oats,  Followen)  Indians,  kill  wives 
and  children,  183. 

Mercury,  vessel  captured,  195-96. 

Michilimackinac,  Fort,  described,  22-23;  massacre,  177; 
Long’s  escapade  at,  177-80. 

Moccasins,  described,  47. 

Mohawk  Indians,  intermarry  with  Connecedagas,  34; 
exploit  of  Silver  Heels,  205-208. 

Montgomery,  Colonel,  expedition  to  Rock  River, 
xvi. 

Montmorenci,  Fall  of,  described,  5. 

Montreal,  as  fur-trade  center,  xv,  6;  ancient  name,  6; 
home  of  Iroquois,  12;  Long  at,  7-8,  191-92,  203-204. 

Mort,  Lac  la,  Indians  of,  67-68;  Long  winters  at,  71-129. 

Moose,  snout  as  delicacy,  54. 

Musquash  (Hawayzask)  Indians,  described,  80-81. 

New  Orleans,  British  plan  attack  on,  xiv-xv. 

Nesbit,  Brigadier-General,  in  Revolutionary  War,  30. 

Niagara  Falls,  dimensions,  21-22. 

Niagara,  Fort,  described,  21-22. 

Nid  au  Corbeau,  Lac  le,  see  Crow’s-nest  Lake. 

Nipigon  (Alemipigon),  Lake,  described,  66;  Indians, 
battle  with  Wasses,  123-26*. 

Nipissing,  Lake,  source  of  St.  Lawrence,  4,  53. 

North  West  Company,  vessel  on  Lake  Superior,  59; 
trader  deserts,  1 19-21;  organized,  162. 

Ogasby  (the  Horse),  jealousy  of,  132-33. 

Oneida  Indians,  Long  visits,  214-16. 

Onnemay  (the  Sturgeon),  Chippewa  chief,  155. 

Orleans,  Isle  of,  described,  5. 

Oswegatche,  described,  19;  Long’s  party  at,  218. 

Oswego,  Fort,  described,  20-21;  Long’s  party  at,  217, 
220. 

Ottawa  (Grand,  French)  River,  home  of  Adirondack 
Indians,  12;  Indians  remove  to  Mackinac,  16; 
Long  ascends,  53. 


23S 


Outagamie  (Ottiguamie)  Indians,  join  expedition  to 
Prairie  du  Chien,  186-90. 

Panebacash  River,  route  by,  198. 

Panther,  described  by  La  Salle,  53-54. 

Paris,  Treaty  of,  xxv,  18-24. 

Paterson, - ,  killed,  26. 

Pays  Plat,  Long  arrives  at,  59-60;  traders  assemble, 
129,  175- 

Pensacola,  Spaniards  capture,  xv. 

Peoria,  Montgomery’s  expedition  to,  xvi. 

Pickerel,  caught,  57,  105,  142,  199. 

Pike,  caught,  105,  132,  142,  199. 

Pimitiscotyan  Landing,  Long  at,  ior,  219. 

Pique,  Riviere  la,  described,  132. 

Polygamy,  among  Indians,  121. 

Posts,  barrier,  importance  of  to  British,  18-24. 
Potawatomi  (Poe)  Indians,  attack  trader,  181-85. 
Prairie  du  Chien,  British  expedition  to,  xiv-xvi,  185-90. 
Prince  of  Wales,  Fort,  captured,  203. 

Puants,  Lac  les,  see  Green  Bay. 

Quaife,  Milo  M.,  Historical  Introduction,  xi-xxi. 
Quinte  (Quenty,  Kenty)  Bay,  Indians  settle  near, 
16;  Long  sojourns  at,  219,  223. 

Rame,  Portage  la,  Long’s  party  at,  134,  173-74- 

Ramsay, - ,  encounter  with  Indians,  180-85. 

Rat  (Hawayzask)  Indians,  trade  with  Long,  127. 
Rattlesnakes,  Indian  bitten  by,  187-88;  as  aid  in  child¬ 
birth,  187;  as  food,  200. 

Red  Lake  (Misqui  Sakiegan),  significance  of  name,  103- 
104. 

Revolutionary  War,  John  Long  in,  xii-xvi,  25-31, 
45,  185-91,  195-96;  treaty,  xxv,  18-24. 

Rice,  Wild,  in  Red  Lake,  104;  in  Lake  Schabeechevan, 
137;  as  food,  148. 

Robson,  Joseph,  attacks  Hudson’s  Bay  Company,  160- 
61. 

Rock  River,  Montgomery’s  expedition  to,  xvi. 

Rogers,  Major  Robert,  career,  T94. 

Rondaxe  Indians,  see  Connecedaga  Indians. 

Sagueney  River,  Long’s  expedition  to,  xvii,  193-203. 

236 


St.  Ange,  Franfois,  act  of  cannibalism,  151-58. 

St.  John,  Lake,  Long  visits,  xvii;  route  by,  198. 

St.  Joseph,  Fort,  location,  i8r. 

St.  Lawrence,  source,  4-5,  53. 

St.  Louis,  British  attack,  xv. 

St.  Peter’s  Lake,  traders  at,  198. 

St.  Regis  Indians,  intermarry  with  Connecedagas,  34. 
Salmon  Creek,  route  by,  220. 

Salt  Lake  (Lake  le  Sel),  described,  104. 

Santeron,  Jacques,  deserts  North  West  Company,  119- 
21,  *37- 

Sault  Ste.  Marie,  vicinity  described,  57. 

Sauteur  Indians,  see  Chippewa  Indians. 

Scalping,  practice  described,  31-32;  anecdote  concern¬ 
ing,  32-33- 

Schabeechevan  (Weed)  Lake,  route  by,  105;  Long 
winters  at,  132-76;  described,  137. 

Scrawny,  Old,  exploit  of,  93-94. 

Scunnionsa  (the  Elk),  scalping  exploit,  32-33. 
Scuttawaybo,  see  Liquor. 

Sel,  Lac  Le  (Salt  Lake),  trader  killed,  146-47. 
Severance,  Frank  H.,  Studies  of  the  Niagara  Frontier 
cited,  22. 

Shaboomoochoine,  Lake,  route  by,  198;  Long  winters 
at,  199-203. 

Shaw,  — — - — -,  trader  at  Lake  Manontoye,  76;  attacked 
by  Indians,  81-92. 

Shawnee  Indians,  un warlike  reputation,  13. 
Shekarkistergoan  (Skunk’s-head)  Lake,  savages  visit 
Long,  148;  famine  among  traders,  150-58. 

Silver  Heels,  anecdote  concerning,  205-208. 

Sioux  Indians,  join  expedition  to  Prairie  du  Chien, 
186-90. 

Skunk’s  Lake  (Shecarke  Sakiegan),  described,  137. 
Smith,  Captain,  commands  ship,  3-6. 

Snakes,  see  the  various  kinds. 

Spanish,  in  Revolutionary  War,  xiv-xvi;  explore  Gulf 
of  St.  Lawrence,  4. 

Stanwix,  Fort,  described,  22;  Long  passes,  214. 
Sturgeon,  caught,  59,  105,  148-49,  199. 


237 


S^ntiejc 


Sturgeon  Lake,  Long  reaches,  67;  described,  80-81;  In¬ 
dians  accompany  Long,  123. 

Superior,  Lake,  ancient  name,  58;  described,  58-59. 

Superstitions,  among  Indians,  110-12;  among  civilized 
nations,  112;  battle  with  Wasses,  123-26. 

Tadoussac,  described,  193,  195. 

Tattooing,  practice  described,  64. 

Thwaites,  Reuben  Gold,  estimate  of  Long’s  Voyages  and 
Travels,  xviii. 

Tobacco,  offered  to  Great  Spirit,  58. 

Toniata  Creek,  Long  locates  at,  218. 

Totems,  among  Chippewa,  1 10-12;  among  civilized 
nations,  112. 

Tracy,  Monsieur  de,  name  given  to  Lake  Superior,  58. 

Tripe  de  roche,  used  as  food,  149,  159. 

Trois  Rivieres,  described,  6-7. 

Trout,  caught,  57,  105,  142,  199. 

Turkey  snakes,  described,  200. 

Tuscarora  Indians,  unite  with  Iroquois,  15. 

Two  Sisters,  Lake  of  the  (Neeshshmaince  Sakiegan), 
route  by,  106. 

Umfrevili.e,  Edward,  Present  State  of  Hudson's  Bay, 
discussed,  166-67. 

Viixe  Marie,  ancient  name  for  Montreal,  6. 

Wabasha  (Warbishar),  on  Prairie  du  Chien  ex¬ 
pedition,  186-90. 

Wampum,  described,  62;  use  of  belts,  62-63. 

Washington,  General  George,  criticized,  37. 

Wasses  Indians,  battle  with  Sturgeon  Lake  band,  123- 
26. 

Water  Snakes,  black,  described,  200-201. 

Whitefish,  caught,  57,  105,  143,  199. 

Williams,  Eleazer,  supposed  lost  Dauphin  of  France,  8. 

York  Factory,  captured,  203. 


238 


GETTY  CENTER  LIBRARY 


